KUALA LUMPUR: Land Public Transport Commission (Spad) chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar is unperturbed by calls from some quarters asking for his resignation from Spad.
Recently, Taxi Drivers Action Committee (JBPTLK) announced a plan to hold a rally calling for the resignation of Syed Hamid as Spad chairman, claiming that Spad has failed to solve many issues pertaining to taxi drivers.
The rally is slated to take place between Padang Merbok and Dataran Merdeka on Nov 18. JBPLTK estimates that 6,000 taxi drivers will join the rally.
"Spad has always been concerned about the welfare of taxi drivers in Malaysia. We open our doors anytime to taxi drivers to discuss matters, and help them as much as possible.
"Unfortunately, we cannot please everyone. Some of them demanded for several things beyond our jurisdiction such as the implementation of Socso for taxi drivers, a ban on Uber, and an exemption from GST," said Syed Hamid when contacted by the New Straits Times.
While Spad channeled the taxi drivers' demands to the government but the matter was not up to Spad to decide, said Syed Hamid.
With regards to the demonstration, Syed Hamid said that it will not solve the taxi drivers' problems nor increase their incomes, but he does not mind if they insist on doing it.
"This is a democratic country. It's up to these people to hold a rally as long as they have a permit to do so. However, my advice to them is that a rally is not the answer to solving their problems. No issues in the world can be solved via rally," he claimed.
Earlier at noon, Syed Hamid officiated a gathering between Spad and the taxi industry at the Platinum Sentral, KL.
More than 2,000 people including taxi drivers and taxi associations attended the event.
"Spad will continue to empower taxi drivers and take care of their welfare. From the attendance, it's evident that we gained the majority of taxi drivers' support."