THERE are some intricacies that the Transport Ministry (MOT) has to sort out with the police with regard to movement during the current lockdown period – urgently – lest income of individual transport providers will be at stake.
This follows a statement by MOT yesterday that the Government has not restricted nor issued any directive to stop public transport services, including taxi, car rental, and e-hailing services or prohibited them from operating inter-district or inter-state during the current movement control order (MCO 2.0).
Since the start of MCO 2.0 on Jan 13, MOT said it has received several complaints from taxi drivers claiming that they have been detained and questioned by enforcement officers at roadblocks when making their way home after carrying passengers across district or state borders.
Taxis, rented cards and e-hailing services fall under essential services categories, thus, they are allowed to operate fully during MCO 2.0, according to Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
“In addition, they are also allowed to cross districts and state borders as permitted under the commercial vehicles category,” he clarified.
“But drivers must ensure that their passengers have the necessary approval to prove their need to travel under the permitted scope before crossing districts or state borders.”
This is to prevent irresponsible parties from attempting to violate the MCO – by taking advantage of the allowance for public transport – to travel cross borders (districts and states) for reasons that are not permitted by the Government.
“This will defeat the Government’s efforts to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic as the purpose for the implementation of MCO is to control the movement of people, including the drivers and passengers,” Wee pointed out.
He also cautioned transport providers that all related services must be operated in compliance with the stipulated standard operating procedure (SOP) approved by the National Security Council without compromise. – Jan 22, 2021
