KUALA KANGSAR: The Executive Taxi Operators and Owners Association of Malaysia (Pupteksm) has been told by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz to find ways to improve service instead of seeking cheap publicity.

Nazri has also regarded Pupteksm's call for him to give up his Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) portfolio following his remark that the taxi service in the country was worse than the dirty public toilets as an "act of stupidity".

"I think the association knows that many of their drivers have erred. Should we be protecting such drivers or providing good service to the public?" he said to reporters after launching the new buses of The Combined Bus Services Sdn Bhd, here, today.

He was asked to comment on Pupteksm's call for him to let go the CVLB portfolio, apologise and withdraw his remark which was deemed to have tarnished the image of taxi drivers in the country.

Nazri said the association should instead act against errant and cheating members, and not ask him to let go the CVLB portfolio.

"The many complaints we have received are on dishonest taxi drivers, who fleeced their passengers by refusing to use the meter. I'm only talking about the errant taxi drivers, so I don't see why the honest ones should feel hurt by my remark."

Nazri said when a survey was done with tourists as the respondents, they noted that they were more unhappy about the deplorable taxi service in Malaysia than the conditions of the public toilets then.

"An association which defends drivers who are errant and dishonest, and asking the minister who speaks up on this to give up his portfolio, only shows stupidity on its part," he added.

Nazri urged the public who have been cheated and threatened by taxi drivers to report directly to the agency.

"We should not allow these errant taxi drivers to 'reign supreme'. I know that some who have erred and been hauled up, regret their action. We usually don't penalise them straight away but give them a stern warning first," he said.