Monday, June 26, 2006

Back to reality

I spent the last 4 days in Singapore. In Singapore, whenever we needed a taxi to get anywhere, we only had to wait a maximum of 5 minutes. A taxi stops, we hop on, tell the driver where to go and we get there. No hassle, no haggle. Then we arrive back in KL. Lugged our bags and approached the first taxi parked near where the bus stopped. The taxi driver looked more like a thug. PT asked to get to our place, straight away the taxi driver asked for RM35 for the fare. WHAT?? When we tried to get him to use the meter, he said he won't be able to make ends meet if he used the meter. Now, if it's not working out for him as a taxi driver, I would suggest he changed profession!

Then we walked a short distance away from where the bus stopped. Hailed a taxi which stopped for us. Without asking if he would go where wanted to go, we got him to open the boot, put our luggage in and jumped into the taxi. The metered fare came up to RM13.

Recently, when I was at a hotel lobby in KL, I heard a commotion. A tourist from China was talking on top of her voice complaining to the hotel manager. I could not make out what she was saying but she went on for quite a bit. Finally found out that she was charged RM100 for a drive from KLCC back to her hotel which is within walking distance!

Malaysians are getting such a bad image thanks to the taxi drivers!

2 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

This type of things make us dem malu. No wonder we won 3rd place in the "Rudest country" held by Reader's Digest.

11:22 am  
Blogger me said...

yes. unfortunately so true. but people keep it in check by reporting it to the authorities and refusing to succumb to their blackmail. then again, what number do we report to? in hk, where taxi drivers will also take advantage if given a chance to, the authorities make an effort to control it. everybody there knows what number to call to complain, hence the taxi drivers have to toe the line or risk suspension of license. itulah malaysia. it's as simple as that. but yet they don't bother about it. malaysia is cakap boleh only lah.

10:13 am  

Post a Comment

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home