TAXI COUNTER AT KLCC

FAIR FARE: Some preferred to pay the extra RM2 as long as cabbies used the meter — Pic: Gan Jin Liang

Contrary to complaints from several taxi drivers, passengers at the Suria KLCC shopping mall seem to prefer the new counter system implement a fortnight ago.

The new system helped passengers as the cabs charged a reasonable fare and used the meter.

Some passengers have checked out taxis along Jalan Ampang and was shocked when they were quoted a fare of RM70 for a trip to Subang Jaya, when the usual charge was RM25 to RM30.

That was expensive and those taxi drivers refused to use the meter. Most o them prefer to add another RM2 for the services charged at the Suria KLCC counter compared to paying more than double the usual fare.

MOHAMAD: Will only take taxis that charge reasonably

Tourist Andrew Ngotohusod, on holiday from Indonesia with three family members, expressed relief at the new taxi counters.

Stating he had had so many bad experiences with taxi drivers charging exorbitant fares, he said: "They don't like to use the meter and I am forced to bargain with them before getting in.

"I prefer taking the registered taxi as the fares would be transparent to me," said Andrew, who visits Malaysia regularly.

Jarm Denise and his wife Klara Denise from Holland , felt it was a sound system. "I haven't yet been overcharged by any taxi drivers. We have met a lot of honest ones here and some also acted as tourist guides, taking us around KL.

Over the past fortnight, city cabbies had staged two protests outside the Suria KLCC mall against the new concessionaire, Awana Sutera Sdn Bhd, operating two stands along Jalan Ampang and one along Jalan P. Ramlee.

They were against having to pay registration and monthly fees to the concessionaire and claimed passengers were unhappy at having to pay an extra RM2 for boarding or alighting a taxi from the mall.