Jan 22, 2008
Drivers' earnings up, cab waiting times down: Raymond Lim
By Jermyn Chow
THE recent taxi fare hike may have just put a lid on a cab crunch which was threatening to boil over.
If preliminary findings are anything to go by, Transport Minister Raymond Lim said the fare revision last month was 'effective' in meeting the increasing demand of taxis in the Central Business District (CBD).
Based on figures taken four weeks after the Dec 18 fare hike, Mr Lim said waiting times in the city area during peak hours have 'gone down substantially'.
Mr Lim revealed that commuters in the city only have to wait for up to 6 minutes for a cab, significantly less than the 5 to 22 minutes before the fare hike.
Waiting times at the Suntec City taxi stands - said to be the worst performing of the lot - have been cut drastically from 22 minutes to 4 minutes.
While some cabbies have complained that passengers are not flagging taxis, Mr Lim said their earnings have however gone up.
Based on figures provided by ComfortDelGro, Singapore's biggest taxi operator, cabbies are pocketing about $11 more a day, earning about $318.
Mr Lim was responding to questions from MP for Tampines GRC Ms Irene Ng and MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Mr Baey Yam Keng in Parliament.
Mr Lim also allayed Ms Ng's fears, saying that the extra surcharges for cabs plying the city areas would not pinch the supply in the suburbs.
The Transport Minister assured the House that the Land Transport Authority would continue to monitor the situation over the next 3 to 4 months and work with taxi operators and associations.
Copyright © 2007 Singapore Press Holdings. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement & Condition of Access
(#2) ReapWhatYouSow January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:16 PM
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Minister RL, please go drive a taxi for a day and find the truth from real hands-on experience.Drive the talk. (#3) forgetitlah January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:21 PM
this type of reporting is nothing new. our mainstream paper likes to paint a very rosy picture of the situation on ground level.
show the proof.
it seems like just not long ago we read that taxi drivers are complaining. or was I reading news under the 'World' section?
#2 RWYS, if we ask our dear minister to drive a taxi, guarantee we'll have his kah kias all lining up along the road waiting to flag his cab.
(#4) ReapWhatYouSow January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:23 PM
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That will be outright cheating.
I quit.
(#5) kfanatics January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:40 PM
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I rather wait 5 ~ 22mins to have the old price back. Can I?
As for the earning up, how many cab drivers did Delgro interviewed to get that figure?
(#6) Prokinetic January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:45 PM
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Wait another 2 months for the real picture to emerge.
(#7) cc1034 January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:46 PM
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Base on what was reported by ST and presented in Parliamant by our TM is true!!! that cab drivers daily earnings has increased to $318 and less rental + misc of $130, the monthly income of our cab drivers is $5640. !!!! Did our Tax IRAS collected the right amount from our Cab drivers?? If the cab drivers income is so high, why the touting, grumbling and complainig in the first place. The TM need to be replaced as his presentation is very vague and not enough substance; income increased by how much? how many %? A primary school normal stream kid can present better than him.
(#8) ReapWhatYouSow January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 04:58 PM
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With that type of income, all borderline guys should go drive.
(#9) forgetitlah January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:00 PM
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was rental reduced?
(#10) WhatNext January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:06 PM
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What, who gave him this kind of report?? Does Raymond Lim really think that the Singapore populations are dumb 3-years old kids that can easily buy-in to what he claimed. SHOW US THE PROOF AND LET US SCRUTINIZED THE DATA AS WELL!!!
Did he personally talk to the taxi drivers on the ground, or he had simply based his statements on the nicely packaged and touched-up report produced by the taxi companies like Comfort-Delgro (and can we trust government companies like them to give us transparent and representative reports)?
I have been talking to taxi drivers whenever I am on-board one, and ALL told me the same thing - that their earnings had dropped and they have to work harder and longer hours now in order to get back the same earning before the fare revision.
Granted the fact that some of these taxi-drivers maybe untruthful, but what is visible is that ALL of them are not in favor and are unhappy with the fare revision (if it really benefit them, why won't they be so unhappy...).
Raymond Lim, go face the facts and talk to the taxi drivers personally to get the real picture, and stopped relying on those packaged reports that comes from all your "YES" men, who are only interested in licking your shoes!!!
Better still, why don't you get a independent 3rd party audit or survey company to conduct a survey on all taxi drivers and see what you get...
Stop being so eager to show that you had achieved without showing us the real proof!!!
(#11) lich_king January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:06 PM
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"cabbies are pocketing about $11 more a day, earning about $318."
Suppose Cabby Lim works 5 days a week:
One week he 'pockets' 5 days X $318 = $1590
One month he will 'pocket' 4 weeks X $1590 = $6360!!!
WOW!!!!! (#12) SMorliere January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:10 PM
Clear sign of another impending increase on taxis' daily rental rates by Comfort-Delgro??
(#13) SMorliere January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:12 PM
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What would be the outcome if the taxi companies had simply reduce the daily rental rates, instead of increasing the fares??
(#14) kfanatics January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:21 PM
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The taxi companies will one by one start to complain of low profit.
(#15) Robinkwang January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:23 PM
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It stated clearly on 7th para that the figures are provided by ComfortDelGro to show that drivers' earning are up.
Seems like the increase on cabbies' daily rental are inevitable.
(#16) simonjllim January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:25 PM
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I totally agree with comments by WhatNext.
When i talk to taxi drivers, all of them say its harder to earn money now. In fact, taxi companies are the ones who are making more money out of the fare increase. From my conversations, the companies have increased other additional costs that taxi drivers have to borne, given that the taxi rates are higher now. I can't remember what they are, but it has to do with the usage of the meter and what nots. So if you calculate the increase in percentage terms, taxi companies actually stand to gain a whole lot more than what the taxi drivers are getting.I think there is a clear lack of transparency, as WhatNext has pointed out as well.
(#17) lplp January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 05:25 PM
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Next in line, Taxi rental increases. About $11 daily rental increase across the board....
(#18) michealpek January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 07:59 PM
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why study drive taxi can liao----sotong.
(#19) michealpek January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 08:32 PM
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you know why hawkers never dare to charge 35% during peak hours --------because there are too many hawkers around-----you know why taxi company charge 35% during peak hours -----because there are so few of them---------you know who control the taxi numbers------------blame the department that control it and that department head should not get pay increase like what our PM say,-----does this happen???????????
(#20) kenshing January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 08:42 PM
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Mr Raymond Lim,
Please walk the ground and have a chat with the cab drivers. Every cab driver I have spoke to have complained of a drop in earnings and they are finding it hard to survive.
I cannot dispute the fact that it is easier to get a cab in the cities. Why? Because no one wants to take them! Isn't it obvious.
It is astonishing and disappointing the comments that were made and unfortunately I can only conclude that you seem aloof of the situation which to me is unacceptable in your position as a minister.
(#21) newcastle January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 08:49 PM
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This Lim needs to see a medical specialist of some kind - he is obviously delusional. Not one taxi driver I use has had increase - 99% down about 10% and one breaking even.These so called experts need a life lesson..........
(#22) Eagle2004 January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 09:36 PM
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Did Transport Minister, Raymond Lim figure this one out all by himself, or did he consult a 6-8 year old kid, proficient in the children's game called "Rush Hour Traffic Jam Puzzle"?
This game has over 40 challenges ranging from beginner (1 scoop) to expert (banana split), where the player shifts the obstructing cars, taxis & trucks out of his path to the exit.
(#23) forgetitlah January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 10:21 PM
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when I heard his report over the radio, he sounded very convincing leh.
jialat, think i kena brainwashed leow.
*slap* *slap* - ok. awake now.
all only know how to stand behind the podium and speak from a piece of paper. like that i also know.
(#24) lokefookcheong January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 10:47 PM
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The taxi queuing for passengers is here to stay. It will not go away as the minister hope. Why ? This time it really bite those regular who take taxi to everywhere. They can't take the increase transprot cost anymore and have found alternatives.
Just wait for policy reversal.
(#25) kjks January 22, 2008 Tuesday, 11:06 PM
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Did anyone verify Comfort's statistics. This is serious stuff, did any AO in the ministry probe the numbers. How many cab drivers were interviewed? Over what time frame? What about other taxi operators?
(#26) reformation Yesterday, 12:44 AM
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Wait till the next election to see what will happen. Why pay such Ministers so high salary just to make such silly comments?
(#27) reformation Yesterday, 12:47 AM
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Is this a remark made by our world-class government? haha what a joke!!!!
(#28) Alvin8923 Yesterday, 01:52 AM
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This is just plain BS.
(#29) simonyw2007 Yesterday, 06:19 AM
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We may make lots of complains now regarding fare increase, hospitalization increase,cost of living increase....etc etc..... End of the days when Election comes, garment throws some sweet talk and most of us will forget of this. Then new Minister will be call to office and the same old things will get started again. Who to blame? just blame ourself lor.....cause u cast the vote to paying party and u just have to carry on paying.
(#30) simonyw2007 Yesterday, 06:23 AM
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Just hopes that more taxis will be returned back to Comfort and Trans, then the real picture will show. Paper data calculation does not paint a real picture, but action will show the real performance.
(#31) Prokinetic Yesterday, 07:19 AM
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yups.. like i said, just wait another 2-3 months when the cabbies buay tahan already.. they will start returning their cabs. The cab masters will then be hit by less rental fees.. then, only then will they consider reviewing their stupid policies.
Its all about the bottom line. They don't give two hoots about what the common man thinks.
(#32) Prokinetic Yesterday, 07:29 AM
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by the way, it is really strange that the media will report something that is really skewed from public perception.
i'm reminded of totalitarian states such as North Korea where the media is state controlled.
(#33) kfanatics Yesterday, 08:22 AM
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I remembered when Delgro announced the fare increase, it was done through a ST first page, BIG headline.
During the 2 weeks no one from any board stood up to say that they support the increase.All sudden now a MOS says that this works??
Shouldnt the Delgro be the one to report this?Why the MOS report on their behalf, since the gahmen always say that they leave the decision to the sector to make. Therefore its only right that they also leave the reporting to them..
Why the MOS has the urge to report the 'success' of the hike??It so confusing the way they twist and turn.....
(#34) Adamantium Yesterday, 08:36 AM
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When commuters complained of a lack of taxis, it was a sign of high demand so that taxi companies should increase the number of their taxis on the road.
But what commuters got instead was an increase in fares!! We are being punished for taking taxis too much!
It’s like if you complain that you are queuing too long for your hamburger at McDonald’s, instead of speeding up their service, opening more service counters, or outlets, McDonald’s increased the price of their hamburgers instead.
Or if you complained about queuing too long at the POSB atm, instead of putting up more atms to serve its customers, POSB charge you a hefty fee for every atm transaction!
I still say we boycott taxis. I can’t believe the government and the taxi cartel is doing this to us.
Taxi cartel:---- In Singapore, after liberalising of the taxi industry, instead of seeing competition amongst the various taxi companies, the latter gang up together to fix taxi fares for the market.
There is no variation in product/service offerings, no differences in price.
There’s the Colombian drug cartel, the South African DeBeers diamond cartel.
In Singapore we have the taxi cartel, under the auspices of the LTA.
(#35) Adamantium Yesterday, 08:47 AM
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Come on, everyone. Action speaks louder than words. Spread the word around. BOYCOTT TAXIS.
It would be quite ridiculous if we complain here only to step out and grab a cab afterwards.
The only way to make Transport Minister Raymond Lim eat his words is if we boycott taxis until the obvious becomes painfully obvious.
(#36) emptytalk Yesterday, 08:58 AM
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I do not know who to believe: the isolated report of taxi drivers complaining reduced taking or the multi-million dollar man announcing via mass media that the revision is working.
What is disappointing is that he seems to endorse the hefty increase of taxi fare engineered by the big boys without expressing concern on the impact on the commuters at large who voted him to office.
I wonder who he is serving: the commuters (public) or the taxi operators.
(#37) Prokinetic Yesterday, 09:47 AM
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yes I'm going to boycott taxis indefinitely.
(#38) michealpek Yesterday, 10:18 AM
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#32the video news reported say taxi drivers not making money, taxi drivers kao pe kao bu cannot tahan liao----i believe for what the video show they will be ganging up to return their taxi after chinese new year.
(#39) michealpek Yesterday, 10:21 AM
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raymond lim cannot do things like this lah---------if you are still alert in the brain please do an investigation now and prosecute the person who gave you this datas if not then i belieave you are not fit to sit on this chairleh, please wake up.
(#40) Vlahov_21 Yesterday, 10:33 AM
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The high demand for cabs due to the train breakdown on Monday must have pulled up the average earning of cabbie....
(#41) Prokinetic Yesterday, 11:51 AM
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They'll probably take the statistics from Monday and extrapolate it to the rest of the 364 days..
(#42) pat_zhou Yesterday, 12:32 PM
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My elder brother drives a Comfort-Delgro taxi, and he personally told me that it is getting difficult for him nowadays to meet the same earnings that he had been having before the fare revision (and he definitely did not earn S$307 before as what Raymond Lim and Comfort-Delgro claimed, and swear that of those fellow drivers that he know, none earn that kind of intake a day).
On average days since the fare revision, he is now earning about 10%-15% less, and he was really fuming up the roof when he heard what Raymond Lim claimed.
My elder brother told me that since the news (Raymond Lim's claims) broke-out yesterday, every of his fellow drivers he met and speak to are swearing and cursing at Raymond, and sending their "fine" regards to his xxxxxx…
I wonder whether Raymond Lim did feel the constant itchiness on his ears since yesterday!
Seems like we are paying Raymond Lim disgustingly high salary to bullshit around...
(#43) WhatNext Yesterday, 12:58 PM
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Wonder why ST did not allow comments to be posted for the same news article being featured in today ST (or link the above comments being posted)?
Wa-lau...is it because there's too much s**t being posted here that are not too pleasing to Raymond's ear... is it huh?
Mati liao...all of us sire kenna marked (by who you think huh?)...
(#44) Adamantium Yesterday, 01:24 PM
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#37 Prokinetic
Right on, man! Boycott taxis!
(#45) michealpek Yesterday, 03:20 PM
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i just came back from coffee shop i heard taxi drivers cursing at govt. step down lah where got face now.
(#46) ReapWhatYouSow Yesterday, 03:22 PM
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Drive Raymond, drive.
Not your Lexus.
(#47) cc1034 Yesterday, 03:49 PM
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I think our TM Mr R Lim needs to verify his report and clarify in Parliamant what he has presented as it is very contradicting to many ground feedback and reporting by ST with cab drivers and commuters.
Our TM being a Minister has all the power to demand and get all the facts and reports from ALL the Taxi Operators and not just by ComfortDelgro.
He should analysis and verify the report first ( using his own resources) before replying to questions in Parliament. If what was reported is false or 'make to look good', then some top heads should roll. Anyway, our TM do not has the charisma of a leader!!!
(#48) lobo_respawned Yesterday, 04:24 PM
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is he a WO minister? i.e WO=walkover
(#49) alphaoasis Yesterday, 04:27 PM
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#43 - by IRAS, they will mark you and then do an audit on your tax payments. gahmen very well known for pulling off such a stunt.. sneaky fellas out to get u from the inside...
(#50) lobo_respawned Yesterday, 05:01 PM
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#43,#49They probably just noted where we lived, so that when they redraw the boundaries for the next GRC election, we ended up becoming a walkover estate or is mixed with enough 66.6% so to make it a sure-win for you-know-who.
(#51) chiabb.2 Yesterday, 05:05 PM
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Heard this on radio this morning: "Do not steal....Governments do not like competition."
(#52) lobo_respawned Yesterday, 05:22 PM
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#51 who said that on radio? The DJ?
(#53) wiheefee Yesterday, 05:55 PM
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Mr Lim...! Drivers earning 318 bucks a day after u launch your dont know what carp master plan? Who are you trying to buff? Your boss? You better make sure he dont read this report on the paper. He will either die laughing or screw you up-side-down.(Polytechnics will start a new course for those who wanna become Taxi Drivers. 1yr course + guarantee good income by
Transport Minister)You failed...!
(#54) chiabb.2 Yesterday, 09:11 PM
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#52 Flying Dutchman himself!
(#55) chiabb.2 Yesterday, 09:12 PM
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#54 Actually he was quoting from an 'authoritative source' - a bumper sticker! ;D
(#56) ronintan Yesterday, 09:13 PM
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I can't believe it!!This minister trusts the salary survey of taxi drivers done by taxi companies!!!Isn't that an obvious conflict of interest issue here???
(#57) donkuok Yesterday, 09:37 PM
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He just want to meet his ministry target and wash his hands after this. He can switch from negative result to positive result without proof. This is the way govt works. Things still not transparent.Primarily school student also can judge that the waiting time has been shorten due to over supply and less demand. Can imagine he can't do maths as good as the primarily student.
(#58) Prokinetic Yesterday, 11:11 PM
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#56
You hit the nail on the head! Anyone else would immediately see the direct conflict of interest but not our dear transport minister. Incredible but true!
My opinion of Raymond Lim has gone down the tubes......
And to imagine last week in the newspapers he was quoted as saying 'People come first.' when commenting on the review of the public transportation.
Sure people come first.. i just wonder which people he's referring to....
(#59) chengdaniel Today, 12:22 AM
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Our transport minister get the figure from ComfortDelGro u kmow! so don play play ar ! How ComfortDelGro derives the figure har ? Our ministers seems to get the notions wrong totally abt what is happening. The last couple of days abt medical health and investment on UBS, Citi, M.L Did u actually read the article abt what they said. Beating about the bushes and twisting & turning trying to make the publics know what is best for them but i personally tinks that more agenda than just the surface as it is rite now. I just hoped that more capable oppositions parties will be in the next election. U know what i mean hor......
(#60) preciousspring Today, 01:30 AM
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Has Transport Minister Raymond Lim been taken for a ride in Comfort? : http://www.findsingapore.net/forum/v...?p=95040#95040
The taxi problem is temporarily "solved" for the time being:
(1) By reducing demand drastically. Many people are exasperated by the arbitrary, unjustified, unreasonable hefty fare hike.
(2) With the sudden drastic reduce in demand, ComfortDelgro has created a temporary excess of taxis. With this excess, taxi commuters need not phone for taxis as they could be easily flagged-down on the roads or could be found in the taxi stands. So overnight, taxi drivers are desperately looking for taxi commuters, instead of hiding from them or refusing to pick them up since there is few call booking fees to wait for.
(3) Soon the gap between taxi demand and supply will close, as transport is an essential service, people eventually have to carry on with their lives after the anger cools down. Many others would be driven back to take taxis by the jam-packed MRT and buses, by sharp increase in commuting time or by their inability to push and shove for a place in the MRT or bus, like pregnant women. (See post #11 eve333sg http://comment.straitstimes.com/show...?t=8861&page=2 )
Moreover, taxi drivers who could not survive the lean period (the "marginal taxi drivers") because they got families to feed or cannot pay their vehicle rental who be forced to give up taxi driving, reducing the taxi supply on the roads.
With the recent arrogant behaviour of ComfortDelgro (Comfort, CityCab and Yellow Top Comfort taxis), many people are now aware that it is important that the small taxi companies must be helped to survive or even to grow, whenever possible, especially when making a call booking:
Prime Tel. 6778 0808
Premier Tel. 6363 6888
Smart Tel. 6485 7777
Trans-Cab Tel. 6555 3333
SMRT Tel. 6555 8888
*
(#61) ReapWhatYouSow Today, 04:50 AM
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Raymond said so. No weight.Need MM to say so. Need PM to say so.
(#62) Prokinetic Today, 08:22 AM
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I didn't watch the parliament session. Was it broadcast?
I wonder how the MPs and backbenchers can take Raymon Lim's data and 'facts' without asking any questions.. if so, it just shows what a lame-duck parliament we have. A total waste of time. Its obvious the figures presented are biased and do not reflect reality.
So we know now how easily parliament can be fooled also.. a house full of yes men?
(#63) lobo_respawned Today, 08:58 AM
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I am actually reminded of our Education minister (I think it was) who also used a wrong figure because his cronies provided it to him. He, of course, used it without studying the figure too much.
(#64) newcastle Today, 09:08 AM
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Can't IRAS confirm average income for the work group "taxi drivers"? Seems logical to me that this where any "correct" information should come from.
(#65) chiabb.2 Today, 10:27 AM
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#62 'yes' men & women....and an opposition beaten into silence. Life's a stage, & all the men & women are actors. ;D
(#66) preciousspring Today, 10:32 AM
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#62 Prokinetic
A very good morning to you.
There is very little time to debate many issues seriously and in depth in Parliament. The debate on the massive and far-reaching amendments to the Penal Code last year where the debate is centred on 1 issue (S377A) is a very good example.
#64 newcastle
You have asked a very interesting question. Why the Transport Minister did not double his figures with the Finance Minister since parliamentary credibility may be at stake?
(#67) preciousspring Today, 10:37 AM
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*
"Mr Lim also allayed Ms Ng's fears, saying that the extra surcharges for cabs plying the city areas would not pinch the supply in the suburbs."
In that case, will the Minister say from where he expects the additional taxis induced by extra surcharges to go to the city areas to come?
http://www.findsingapore.net/forum/v...?p=93792#93792
"(10) Like the ERP, surcharges do not solve problems on the whole.
For a surcharge to be effective, it has to be high enough to attract taxis from other areas. They simply transfer the taxi shortage to other places, just like “digging one hole to cover anotherâ€. Additional taxis are simply required for areas where they are not enough.
When taxi drivers prefer to hide from passengers or to cruise around empty waiting for booking calls or for a surcharge to be imposed instead of going to the areas where they are needed, it is a clear symptom of a seriously malfunctioned taxi service"
(#68) simpooahder Today, 01:35 PM
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I ever asked a garment scholar how to solve the traffic problem years ago. He simply told me 'HIT THE POCKET'. Everybody also knows.
And if taxi drivers have really such a hard life, go become a bus driver or security guard, which are always in demand.
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