KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) guarantees to safeguard the welfare and future of taxi drivers across the country when the coalition governs Putrajaya after the upcoming 13th General Elections.
PKR Opposition Leader, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said that taxi drivers are entitled to obtain taxi permits as it is within their rights.
“Rich people should be ashamed of taking taxi permits from the sweat and blood of those struggling.
“We will ask them to surrender the taxi permits and we will return them to taxi drivers,” Anwar said.
He said this during a mass gathering of taxi drivers with Pakatan Rakyat leaders held last night at the Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) Civic Hall .
Anwar explained that cabbies play a important role in shaping the country’s future by being agents of bringing change to society.
This can be implemented with taxi drives proactively explaining to passengers the current critical condition of the country.
“Taxi drivers can become agents of change when transporting dozens of passengers every day by providing explanation to save this country,” he said.
“99 percent of taxi drivers know the struggle of the people, hates the tyranny of the Barisan Nasional government.
“The services of my brothers (cabbies) to this fight is great,” he said.
He said that taxi drivers should give a clear message to leaders of the Umno-Barisan Nasional (BN) government at GE-13, so that their well-being can be taken care of.
Anwar also slammed Umno-BN leadership of trying to divert issues faced by cabbies by giving them free tyres while issues surrounding permits have not been resolved.
“Najib failed to give permits only to drivers or individuals, he only knows how to give TR1M tyres that only can last for six months.
“He (Najib) has failed to understand the plight of taxi drivers in getting permits,” he said.
More than 600 taxi drivers attended the gathering to express support for PR to bring about changes to the taxi transportation system in this country.
Also present were Selangor Exco – Ronnie Liu, Puchong MP- Gobind Singh Deo, Petaling Jaya Selatan MP – Hee Loy Sian, Bukit Gantang MP – Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin and Deputy Chief Minister of Penang – Dr P Ramasamy.