'I don't know how I'll survive,' says taxi driver caught touting at KLIA
SEPANG: A taxi driver nabbed for touting at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) pleaded with the Road Transport Department (RTD) for compassion, citing financial hardship and stiff competition from e-hailing services.
The 55-year-old man from Seri Kembangan said he was struggling to get passengers and often made less than RM100 a day.
"It's hard to make a living outside these days as most users no longer flag down taxis. I can't even earn RM100 a day, and that makes it difficult to cover my daily expenses," he told enforcement officials following the RTD's Ops Ulat at KLIA.
The taxi driver said he usually made two to three trips a day, earning between RM150 and RM300 depending on customer agreements, but had to pay RM60 daily for taxi rental.
The operation was joined by Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Jana Santhiran Muniayan; RTD senior director of legal enforcement Muhammad Kifli Ma Hassan; Selangor RTD director Azrin Borhan; and his deputy, Datuk Ahmad Kamarunzaman Mehat.
The driver also said he had been arrested four times previously and had borrowed about RM12,000 to pay off summonses and retrieve his vehicle from RTD custody.
"I returned to touting at KLIA because this is a lucrative spot where it's easy to get passengers.
"I'm pleading with RTD not to seize vehicle because it's a rental taxi from a company. If they take it, I don't know how I'll survive," he said.
Meanwhile, Muhammad Kifli said taxi drivers at KLIA Terminals 1 and 2 must use authorised apps to pick up passengers. Those who fail to do so and are caught will be considered touts.
Kifli said offenders often used rented public vehicles, which further complicates matters.
RTD will also apply for the forfeiture of any vehicle used in touting activities under Section 227 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (APAD 2010).
"This forfeiture action is necessary to curb touting. If we only impose fines, they will pay whatever amount is ordered and return to their illegal activities," he said.
From January to mid-June this year, RTD seized 10 public transport vehicles and handled 69 cases involving private cars used for touting.
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