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24 August 2015

Changing Times for Cabbies

Changing Times for Cabbies



PETALING JAYA: Malaysia’s taxi drivers are slowly leaving the industry, blaming growing costs and the falling share of passengers.

An unknown number of cabbies are said to have signed up with ridesharing services such as Uber and GrabCar, with Uber claiming that 20% of its weekly sign-ups today were from taxi drivers.

“Based on (the) last quarter, we have (had) thousands of sign-ups coming in every week. Out of that, about 20% come from the taxi industry,” Uber (Malaysia) general manager Leon Foong told The Star.

He said Uber believed in giving more options to riders and creating more economic opportunities.

However, he did not disclose the numbers of drivers Uber currently had.

It is believed that ridesharing apps such as Uber and GrabCar have dented taxi incomes with lower fares being the major factor.

An Uber trip from PJ New Town to the Bangsar LRT station costs between RM8 and RM12 compared with RM11 or more for taxi fares.

A GrabCar trip can cost RM9 for the same journey.

Taxis also have a poor reputation among Malaysians, with endless complaints about drivers not using the meter.

Gabungan Koperasi Pengang­kutan Malaysia Bhd secretary Mohd Salleh Mat Zin said about 20% of taxi riders in the Klang Valley had gone over to Uber and GrabCar.

He said the lack of Government action against ridesharing had led to drivers jumping over to the other side.

“I know five or six friends who have gone to Uber and GrabCar. How many in total? I don’t know.

“They have to pay the permit for their taxis and all the costs. A GrabCar can just come to a shopping mall, pick someone up and go,” he said.

Taxi drivers claimed there had been a steep drop in their income, with estimates of 20% to 50%.

On Saturday, nine associations representing 800 drivers protested in Klang against the effects of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) and an impending Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) fuel hike in mid-September.

Indian Taxi Owner and Driver Association (Federal Territories and Selangor) secretary S. Balakrishnan said the NGV hike and GST meant RM400 more in their monthly costs.

“Business is already down by 50%. Don’t increase the price of NGV. It’s already worse with GST.

“Maybe I will also go join Uber. We are all going to soon. If I chuck my car and join Uber or GrabCar, I won’t need to pay taxi insurance,” he said.

Balakrishnan and his colleagues urged the Government to exempt taxis from paying the GST and to stop the increase in NGV fuel.

Ahmad Najib Osman, 39, who has been driving a taxi for five years, said the uncertain economy would also mean fewer people travelling by taxi.

“When the economy is not good, people won’t have money to use taxis,” he said.

Federal Territories and Selangor Taxi Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said drivers who could not compete with Uber or GrabCar should get another job.

“If they cannot compete, then they shouldn’t drive taxis. They should switch to another job.

“Has SPAD (Land Public Transport Commission) ever given any incentive to the operators? Not at all, but we’re still going on,” said Aslah, who is also chairman of Comfort Taxi.

The exact number of rideshare cars in the Klang Valley is unknown.

SPAD enforcement chief Datuk Che Hasni Che Ahmad told The Star that 105 illegal taxis had been impounded since October last year.

Uber and GrabCar are not illegal services but drivers without proper public service licences face the risk of being arrested by SPAD. - August 24, 2015.

Source: The Star

22 August 2015

Thailand Promo Codes

Thailand Promo Codes



50 THB off
"Safe" - 50 THB off your ride in Bangkok for 5 times (Expires 15th September 2015)
"SafePhu" - 50 THB off your ride in Phuket for 5 times (Expires 15th September 2015)
"SafeCei" - 50 THB off your ride in Chiangrai for 5 times (Expires 15th September 2015)
"SafePty" - 50 THB off your ride in Pattaya for 5 times (Expires 15th September 2015)

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21 August 2015

Philippines Promo Codes

Philippines Promo Codes



P50 off
Salute

P100 off
"KCFORMEG" - Get unlimited P100 off GrabCar and GrabCar rides
"Umbrella" - Get P100 off your next 10 rides (Expires 10th August 2015)
HeyGrabber

P200 off
"GrabItLikeItShot" - P200 off your next 3 rides (Expires 1st September 2015)
IAmNew

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19 August 2015

Malaysia Promo Codes

Malaysia Promo Codes



RM 30 off
"30OffGC" - RM 30 off to/ from KLIA/ KLIA

RM 2 off
AUG5RM

RM 5 off
ATRIA5 - Unlimited rides to/from Atria Shopping Gallery (Expires 30 September 2015)
GrabMaxis
FelixQ3
GCExpatLife
GrabHQ
Crown01
Galaxylife5 (Galaxy users only, up to 6 rides)

RM 8 off
"MERDEKA58" - RM 8 Unlimited rides to/from LRT/KTM station (29-31 August 2015)

  • Bangsar LRT Station
  • KL Sentral LRT/Monorail Station
  • Subang Jaya KTM Station
  • Kelana Jaya LRT Station
  • Asia Jaya LRT Station
  • Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) Bandar Tasik Selatan
  • Kerinchi LRT Station
  • Sentul Timur LRT Station
  • Ampang LRT Station

"Damansara8" - RM 8 off to/ from Damansara
"Bangsar8" - RM 8 off to/ from Bangsar
"FIRST28B" - RM8 off your first ride
ERIC8

RM 10 off
"grabdg8" - SEP 2015 - Get RM10 off
"1STGC" - SEP 2015 - Get RM10 off your 1st GrabCar ride with the promo code
"GC1ST" - RM10 off for 1st ride
Maxis815MT
"ZGCW2015" - RM 10 off up to 2 rides
"GCLRT" - RM 10 off to/ from LRT station up to 2 rides
"GCPLUSBSR" - RM 10 off 3 rides to/ from Bangsar (GrabCar+ only)
"GCPLUSMK" - RM 10 off 3 rides to/ from Mont Kiara (GrabCar+ only)
"GCPLUSBB" - RM 10 off 3 rides to/ from Bukit Bintang (GrabCar+ only)
"GCPLUSKLCC" - RM 10 off 3 rides to/ from KLCC (GrabCar+ only)

RM 15 off
"FIRST" - RM 15 off up to 3 rides (For newly registered members)
"RM15OFF" - RM 15 off for 1 ride (Expires 31st December 2015)
"IAMSPARTAN" - Get RM15 off your next 2 GrabTaxi rides to or from Reebok Spartan Race Malaysia at Setia City Transport Hub, Setia Alam (Valid on 10th & 11th October 2015 only)

RM 20 off
"Maxis815GC" - RM 20 off to/from Subang Parade/ Sunway Pyramid/ Mid Valley/ Pradigm/ IOI (most major shopping malls)

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Singapore Promo Codes

Singapore GrabTaxi/ GrabCar Promo Codes



S$3 off
"DBS" - get S$3 off your trip
"MasterCard" - Get S$3 off your trip (Contributed by chowahgua on 19/8/2015)

S$8 off
"GC8" - Enjoy S$8 off your first GrabCar ride (Expires 20th August 2015)
"FLYSG" - Get S$8 off from/ to Changi Airport

S$15 off
"Grab15Now" - Get S$15 off your first ride
"GrabKing" - Get S$15 off your first ride

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Email info[at]grab.taxi and we will publish/ amend it here.