TENSION was high at the KL Sentral last night when a group of taxi drivers threatened mass protest following a new ruling barring taxis that are not part of the coupon system from picking up customers at the Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) bus platform.

STRICT COUPON SYSTEM: Only taxis with stickers were seen along Lot G of the LCCT bus platform at KL Sentral late last night

A “mass protest” did not occur, however, fizzling out to about 10 taxi drivers who protested the new ruling by stopping buses outside the platform for their customers.

“Thankfully, nothing serious happened today. But those who stopped the LCCT buses outside of the Lot G platform acted like gangsters and rudely ‘stole’ customers,” said platform taxi marshall, Abdul Aziz Muhamad. He added that there would be a meeting between the authorities to resolve the issue soon.

Auxiliary policemen at KL Sentral started enforcing this new ruling early yesterday and had stopped several taxis without the Puncak Holdings Sdn Bhd sticker from entering the area. Puncak Holdings is managing the Lot G coupon counters at KL Sentral and under the terms signed by taxis accepting the system:

● Only taxis showing the “Puncak Holdings Lot G” stickers are allowed in the area.

● Only taxis using meters and the necessary legal permits/documents, travelling in the Klang Valley are allowed in.

● First come first serve basis where the front-most taxis get the customers always — this disallows choosing of customers or any discussion of prices.

● Taxis under this agreement should be ready to follow the instructions of the marshall or auxiliary policemen at KL Sentral. “This system is to stop touts who are overcharging customers. We already have a solid system in place, they just have to sign an agreement to get the stickers,” said Abdul Aziz.

“We don’t want any complaints from customers here. We want them to be comfortable and welcomed, and not to be conned by unscrupulous taxi drivers who are like touts here.” Abdul Aziz said under the coupon system, a typical ride around Klang Valley would cost about RM8 and and a 50 per cent extra charge is imposed after 11.54pm.

“And that’s just RM12. But if you’re going for the touts, you could be paying up to RM30. My advice? If you want to take taxis at KL Sentral, go to the counter to buy coupons for reasonable prices.”