The wonderful PTC has once again done its usual rubber stamping to approve the fare hike by ComfortDelgro, ostensibly to ‘assist’ cabbies in defraying the increase in cost they are bearing as a result of the rise in diesel prices… by passing the cost to us. According to the People’s Daily Straits Stooge Times, that would be a 10% to 49% (!!) more in overall fares.

Well, it wasn’t that long ago that it was 10 cents very 225m (i.e. 20cents every 450m) before they reduced it to 210m, right? Now you only get 385m out of that almost the same 20cts. Impressive. However, I ain’t so unhappy about that since comparatively, our metered fares are actually quite competitive when you compare it with that of other cities.

In fact, I have always been for a drastic increase in flag down rate and also a more competitive metered rate without the jumble of freaking surcharges as a first level attempt to deal with the demand. After all, a low flag down rate in itself creates a unnatural demand on cabs. That would say a lot about what I think of the change of the peak hour surcharge from $2 to 35% of metered fare, so let’s move on from there.

Next, to addressed commuters’ concern on the difficulty in getting a cab in the city in the evening, it reduced call bookings to ‘better match the demand and supply of taxis’ by 50cts. Now that’s really ‘great news’. Are you on your knees weeping in gratitude yet?

I have said this before and I will say it again. LAN CHEOW!!! (Sorry for the vulgarities. It was simply the most direct way for me to express my feelings right now.)

If you are wondering why I am actually outraged about something that has gone down, let me explain. It’s simply because reducing call booking would have done nothing to affect the bottom line of the cab companies at all, since they still get their cut per call. Above which, we still have a cab per capita figure higher than Hong Kong so just why is there even a need to call a cab? Anyone calling the cab company to inform the cabbie where his business is, when logically the cabbie should be out to ‘cari his own makan’ (i.e. find his own ‘food’), is actually doing the cabbie a favor, isn’t he? And here you have to pay when you do someone a favor!

Wow, that must be another first for Singapore!!

You might scream and say that it isn’t easy for cabbies to make a living but hey… was it any easier for a whole lot of us to make ours? So why in the world should we be going out of our way to make it easier for them? How often is your pay adjusted when living costs go against you, huh?

Anyway, enough on that. Let’s look at the one ‘pro-driver’ move: For drivers who are afraid of paying ERP charges to enter the city and risk not getting a passenger, ComfortDelgro says it will even pay an ‘ERP rebate’ to cabbies who cannot land a passenger within 15 minutes of entering an ERP zone.

What a wonder cost-free PR gesture!! I wonder which guy with a world class pay came up with this ‘for show’ idea because realistically, how the hell is that even possible when on one hand you have long queues at the taxi stands, and then people who can’t stand the wait calling for a cab?! Just do away with the freaking ERP on cabs, for goodness sake, and just make sure we have no problems flagging a cab. If we have problems flagging one and the reason is cabbies not wanting to enter the CBD, then the problem is either the ERP or the cabbies so fix either one of them!

I am not for denouncing this hike and calling it useless straight away, but I am looking forward to seeing the blog postings talking about just how much the situation has not changed. And if the situation is the same old story again, then let’s revisit this issue with a vengeance. At that time, I would suggest that the heads of a particular CEO, whoever who did this so-called ‘in-depth review’, and members of the PTC roll to pay for this.

After all, we are running a meritocracy, yes? So, with world class pay, I will expect world class performance and not world class excuses or failures coming from these mofos.