KUALA LUMPUR: A protest by some 100 cab drivers in Bukit Bintang, here, earlier today ended with five of them being arrested while two taxis were seized by police.
The rally in protest against Uber and GrabCar services started at Jalan Ampang at about 10am, before the protesters went to Jalan Bukit Bintang and parked their cars in front of a supermarket there.
This resulted in a massive traffic jam, and forced the traffic police to divert all traffic leading to Jalan Bukit Bintang to prevent further congestion.
Dang Wangi police chief Assistant Commissioner Zainol Samah said traffic started building up about 10.30am when some 100 taxis were parked on the road, leaving only one lane accessible.
“During the rally, my deputy Superintendent Habibi Majinji tried to negotiate with the representatives from the group, but failed.
“At 11.45am, police gave the group 15 minutes to disperse and warned them that action will be taken if they failed to do so.
“At noon, police gave another order to disperse, but they were still adamant and several of them had also obstructed policemen from carrying out their duty,” he said in a statement.
Zainol said police detained five taxi drivers aged between 30 and 50, and seized two taxis for obstructing the road.
The protesters dispersed immediately upon seeing police action.
Jalan Bukit Bintang was reopened to traffic at 12.30am.
The rally organised by an anonymous individual who spread the invitation through whatsapp was held as a protest by taxi drivers against Uber and Grab car.
Persatuan Transformasi Pemandu Teksi Malaysia (Pers1m) president Kamaruddin Mohd Hussain who was among those arrested said they were only informed about the protest last week.
“The protest was supposed to be joined by 7,000 taxi drivers however only about 700 made it to the location (infront of Pavillion) as the police had blocked the road,” he claimed.