Ops Tangkap

Well last month I was in Penang for an official business trip. Due to some miscommunication, I ended up need to take my own transport to catch an urgent meeting. Guess what? Trying to flag a taxi in Penang is no mean feat. Finally managed to hook one. The driver told me today is my lucky day. Cause there is an operasi going on nabbing errant cab drivers that are flouting the laws. Please enlightened me, I told the cab driver. He continued by saying the operasi is out to catch those who are not following the dress code, those with long hair, those that dont wear black shoes....etc. Because of this, alot of the remaining cab drivers are lying low till the heat is over on that week's Wednesday. I was there on Monday. And the fines need to be settled in Putrajaya. Thats a pain in the ass man.

Frankly, its kinda stupid to have this kind of operasi. Dont you think so? Yeah, you might catch a few recalcitrants. Thats it. Those errant cabbies will lay low, and sprung into action again once its all over. That says alot about Msia style of enforcement. Hangat hangat tahi ayam.

I am not just talking about nabbing errant cabbies. Whatever enforcement activities in Malaysia is seasonal. Once hunting season is over, the evil that lurks in the dark, will be out roaming again. That is a sad fact of life.

Oh I was late for the meeting at the end of the day. THANKS TO THE OPERASI.........

Taxi drivers ordered to pull their socks up
Sep 3, 07 3:30pm

Taxi drivers have been ordered to pull their socks up or face a fine in an effort to smarten up the image of the country's cabbies, local media reported today.

Drivers caught not wearing socks, leaving their shirt tails flapping loose, or deviating from the colour code of white shirt and black shoes could face fines of up to RM300, the Star newspaper said. "Although it is a harsh action, we have to start somewhere to get taxi drivers to be dignified and dressed well so they project a professional image," said Markiman Kobiran of the taxi licensing board. "There is no reason for them to slack after getting the licence," the newspaper quoted him as saying.

The strict enforcement of the uniform code was not welcomed by some taxi drivers, the Star reported. Abdul Jalil Maarof, president of a taxi owners association, told the newspaper that the fines were too high considering a taxi driver only earned about RM100 in a day. "This will only make good taxi drivers get angry. I actually saw a taxi driver crying over having to pay a fine of RM200," he said. - AFP