Published in New Sunday Times
12 October 2006
Taxi touts getting smarter at the KLIA
By Max Koh and David Yeow
KUALA LUMPUR: With the prospect of stiffer fines being imposed, taxi touts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) are now more discreet but no less determined in their operations.
Dressed smartly in ties and jackets, they approach passengers who step out of the arrival hall.
They speak in hushed tones and look like relatives waiting for passengers to disembark.
However, as soon as they offer their services, it is clear they are taxi touts.
The New Sunday Times found yesterday that the touts acted as agents for illegal taxis waiting in the parking lot.
When customers accept an offer, the touts would contact the drivers or lead them to the vehicles themselves.
The taxis are often Proton Wiras, and the fares are negotiable, starting from RM80 for a trip to Kuala Lumpur.
The touts claim it is cheaper than the KLIA taxis, which is untrue as a KLIA budget taxi to Kuala Lumpur costs only RM52.50.
The new tactics are in light of the new Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2006.
The Act imposes a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a jail sentence of up to five years for those convicted of touting.
This year, 14 touts were arrested in raids conducted by the police and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
Eight of them pleaded guilty and were fined RM5,000 each and sentenced to up to one month’s jail.
Keith Hewitt from Britain wrote to the NST recently saying that he was approached by at least eight taxi touts upon arrival at the KLIA.
Hewitt wrote that he was bombarded by a mix of questions including: "Which hotel are you staying at?" "Do you need any help?" and "Taxi, sir?"
MAHB general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said the MAHB and police were taking steps to nab the touts.
"We are monitoring the touts’ movements with CCTVs and patrolling the airport. The patrol involves a team of two security personnel in uniforms or plainclothes," he said.
"We are also working with the Ministry of Tourism to terminate the contracts of booths at KLIA that assist taxi touts."
At the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), the situation is no different with the touts accosting passengers openly.
A legal taxi operator at the LCCT claimed that the terminal lacked enforcement against touts.
12 October 2006
Taxi touts getting smarter at the KLIA
By Max Koh and David Yeow
KUALA LUMPUR: With the prospect of stiffer fines being imposed, taxi touts at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) are now more discreet but no less determined in their operations.
Dressed smartly in ties and jackets, they approach passengers who step out of the arrival hall.
They speak in hushed tones and look like relatives waiting for passengers to disembark.
However, as soon as they offer their services, it is clear they are taxi touts.
The New Sunday Times found yesterday that the touts acted as agents for illegal taxis waiting in the parking lot.
When customers accept an offer, the touts would contact the drivers or lead them to the vehicles themselves.
The taxis are often Proton Wiras, and the fares are negotiable, starting from RM80 for a trip to Kuala Lumpur.
The touts claim it is cheaper than the KLIA taxis, which is untrue as a KLIA budget taxi to Kuala Lumpur costs only RM52.50.
The new tactics are in light of the new Road Transport (Amendment) Act 2006.
The Act imposes a maximum fine of RM50,000 and a jail sentence of up to five years for those convicted of touting.
This year, 14 touts were arrested in raids conducted by the police and Malaysia Airport Holdings Berhad (MAHB).
Eight of them pleaded guilty and were fined RM5,000 each and sentenced to up to one month’s jail.
Keith Hewitt from Britain wrote to the NST recently saying that he was approached by at least eight taxi touts upon arrival at the KLIA.
Hewitt wrote that he was bombarded by a mix of questions including: "Which hotel are you staying at?" "Do you need any help?" and "Taxi, sir?"
MAHB general manager Datuk Azmi Murad said the MAHB and police were taking steps to nab the touts.
"We are monitoring the touts’ movements with CCTVs and patrolling the airport. The patrol involves a team of two security personnel in uniforms or plainclothes," he said.
"We are also working with the Ministry of Tourism to terminate the contracts of booths at KLIA that assist taxi touts."
At the Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT), the situation is no different with the touts accosting passengers openly.
A legal taxi operator at the LCCT claimed that the terminal lacked enforcement against touts.
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