Efficiency = None

My initiative to file a complain on the taxi driver that cheat me ended up futile.

In order to prevent unscrupulous taxi drivers continuously cheating tourists and locals in and around KL, I do my part as consumer + responsible citizen to report the taxi driver. I had all the information needed to file the complain, and the only thing left to do is to find out who/where/how I should complain.

As usual, I turn to Google to look for information and I found that there are 3 ways I could file the complain:
1. Email
2. SMS 39900
3. Call 1 800 88 9600

Firstly, I choose to email. The email address was found in an article in the star online here dated 3rd Feb 2007. Below is my nicely written email:

From: liewei@gmail.com
To: aduanlpkp@mecd.gov.my

To the person in-charge,

I'd like to report on a taxi driver who refuse to use meter and he over-charged me.

Where: KLCC, Jalan Ramlee
When: 21 Sept 2007, 1.30pm

What: I wanted to go to Pudu Raya from KLCC. Approached this taxi driver near a bus stop/taxi stand at Jalan Ramlee. He claim that it is peak hour now ( 1.30pm Fri) and it'll be jam on the road. Using a meter will cost me about RM60 to RM70. He said he'll fetch me to Pudu Raya with a fix price of RM40. I insisted of him using the meter but he said it'll be much expensive using meter, he won't guarantee how much it'll cost me.

Details of driver:
Name: [censored]
Taxi plate number: HWB 7992
Num. printed on license (not sure what it is): 0009126

Please email me if you need any other information about this.

I hope you can take action on this driver as soon as possible to prevent more tourist to be overcharged in the future.

Thanks.

--
Regards,
Lie Wei

While I was writing the email, I was wondering if action will be taken against the taxi driver, or even if anyone will read the email I sent. After all, I'm living in Boleh-land. :P

After about 10mins I sent that out, I got the reply, not from LPKP (Lembaga Pelesenan Kenderaan Perdagangan), but from MAILER-DAEMON@hq.mecd.gov.my. The contents:

Hi. This is the qmail-send program at hq.mecd.gov.my.
I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following addresses.
This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.

Ok, so it had only been 7 months from the date of the article and the email had been discontinued. Or maybe the inbox had not been read ever since it's been announced in Feb 2007 that it is so full, no mail can get through anymore.

Next, I tried to SMS to the number, 39900. This number are commonly seen displayed on a sticker at the back of all taxi together with the telephone number 1 800 88 9600.

Guess what? My phone display "Sending failed".

I've give up. No more responsible-citizen from me. 2 out of 3 channel are not working, what makes you think the 3rd one will work? I'm not going to call the number. (anyone wants to help me call?)

No wonder why dishonest taxi drivers are still all over the road although we constantly heard about actions being taken on errant cabbies and whatever crap we heard/read in the media. All those talk are just talk after all, actions were never taken. Even though responsible citizen like me try to help the JPJ or CVLB (Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board) to report them, I ended up unsuccessful. No channel to complain at all.

Commenting more will only spoil my mood, I'm not going to let the inefficiency of government department to spoil the happy mood I have now.

Elections are coming, have you register? Play your part, each vote counts!!