PADANG BESAR: The activities of pirate taxis (kereta sapu) from Thailand ferrying tourists and workers into and out of Padang Besar on the Malaysian side is taking a toll on the local taxi drivers.
A brief check by Bernama on Padang Besar taxi drivers indicated this has been going on over the years with the illegal taxis turning more aggressive in the past three years.
Taxi driver Mat Isa Senawi, 64, said these illegal taxis from Thailand enter the country legally on the pretext of ferrying tourists but they also take along Thai workers in and out each month to renew their work permits.
These pirate taxis, he said, also ferry passengers who disguise themselves as tourists as far as Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
“Sending passengers to Kangar and Kuala Perlis is normal, but they are more bold now picking up passengers along the way,” he added.
STOLEN PASSENGERS
Mat Isa described while their daily wait for passengers has been frustrating, these illegal taxi drivers were slick enough to woo the passengers.
Most Thai illegal taxis are four-wheel drive vehicles or vans that approach people especially foreign tourists or Thai nationals heading to the taxi stand to offer their services.
“They may offer lower fares compared to local taxis with a four-passenger capacity limit, with a RM40 charge for a one-way trip from Padang Besar to Kangar,” said Mat Isa.
Md Zinul Mat Noh, 60, said he and 13 friends waited for customers at the Padang Besar taxi stand from 8am to 9pm but end up doing no more than 12 trips (six return trips) a day.
“For the past two to three years we only get two or three trips a day because many foreigners use the illegal taxi services from Thailand.
“Cost of living has risen and our taxis need maintenance. Permits also need to be renewed annually,” he said.
Md Zinul and his counterparts are disappointed because over the decade they have only been earning a meagre income through this part time vocation.
THE FIGHT
The issue of these illegal taxis from Thailand has been reported to the authorities and they disappeared after frequent enforcement and patrols, but only to return later.
Padang Besar taxi drivers also face a dilemma of being arrested by police under Section 26J of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons and Anti-Smuggling of Migrants Act 2007 (Act 670).
Another taxi driver Abd Nizam Abd Wahab alleged that there were cases where taxi drivers were accused of conspiring in the offences when tourists they ferry do not have valid travel documents.
He said taxi drivers were remanded in five cases recently for allegedly smuggling migrants or illegal immigrants, making them feel uneasy each time they take in foreign passengers.
“We cannot ask them (foreigners) to show travel documents. If they pass Immigration then it means they are clean. Some of us have asked (them to show documents) but we were reproached,” said Abd Nizam.
Therefore, he urged the authorities to use their discretion before blindly taking action on taxi drivers. -- BERNAMA