Monday, November 27, 2006

Airport Taxi Fiascos

Arriving at KLIA airport today (about 10pm), there was a long cue at the airport taxi counter. Everyone was at a standstill.

I moved to the front as nobody seems to buy tickets.

I told the counter girl I need a cab and you know what she said?

We don't sell tickets now. I asked why? She said she takes instructions.

Apparently, there was a long cue outside.

Then, the Mat Salleh tourist came forward and asked the girl about the same thing.

Crazy? They don't sell tickets because they don't have enough taxis?

What's the problem?

Someone blurted to the foreign tourist: "Taxi biz is a monopoly and they decided what they like. If you don't like it, you can go back your own country."

The tourists were really upset and I am upset too.

How is it that the Malaysian authorities would be willing to sacrifice the public and tourist just to protect an entrepreneur? Was that airport taxi owner someone related to a minister?

There were plenty of taxis which are willing to serve but were not allowed to do business at the airport because the biz is a monopoly; this is about transparency and NEP and nobody can do nothing.

The counter girl said: "I can do nothing as I only take instruction." She's right; but who is wrong?

Ya, dear tourist, if you didn't like it, you can go home; that's what they are told.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome to VMY 2007!

May God bless Malaysia, failing which, Good Luck!

Howsy said...

How apt is your post! Check out today's news.

Anonymous said...

It is rules of thumb for all tourist not to get street taxi services in the airport, because there is a risk that it can run by a crooks that either surcharge you or bring you to somewhere and rob you.

IMHO, it is pretty stupid for the company that monopoly the airport taxi services. They should screen and get 3rd party taxi to register and pay them commission. At the end, you don't need to maintain lots of taxi and yet earn the money.