Here's To Taxi Drivers

Here's a question to all taxi drivers: Do you choose your passengers based on their destinations? 

I don't know about other countries but Malaysian taxi drivers are REALLY PICKY. They actually reject passengers whose destinations are not favorable for them! I mean, seriously, I thought they are supposed to send us to wherever we want!

I've experienced this countless times especially during peak hours when we've got massive traffic jam going on. Whenever I mention about my neighbourhood, they would sulk, shake their heads and say. "No, no, go away." Excuse me, where are our rights as passengers? Why are YOU choosing, not us?

So one evening from Mid Valley, when the roads were completely filled with long lines of vehicles, my mum and I were queuing for taxis. While waiting, I saw some passengers, even tourists and foreigners got turned down by the taxi drivers. What an embarrassing moment! What kind of image are we, as Malaysians, giving the foreigners? The Ministry of Tourism often boast about the friendliness of Malaysians. And here I was, disgusted and humiliated by the sight of the snobbish taxi drivers refusing to drive the passengers. Such hostility. Maybe the Ministry of Tourism should reconsider whether to highlight our 'friendliness' to other countries. It's such a lie.

Anyway, we managed to flag down a taxi. I was praying hard that the taxi driver would ACCEPT us because I needed to rush home to prepare for IELTS. Fortunately, alhamdulillah, he drove us home. My mum jokingly told the taxi driver about the refusal of his comrades in driving passengers simply because they dislike the desired destinations. He answered, "At this hour, there are many places with bad traffic jams. If we send our passengers to these places, we'd be stuck and wasting our time in the traffic jam, instead of getting more passengers. Petrol would be wasted, hence it's not worth it."

Hmmm...sounds logic. It does make sense. In a way, I agree with his opinion because they actually need to earn money to make ends meet. Half the money they earned are used to pay for petrol and taxes, leaving not much for their families and daily needs. Of course, they have to act smart to get more passengers and money.

But, what about the passengers who live far away? What about those who have emergencies to attend to? What about those who are chasing time? Do passengers not matter?

As an example, me rushing for IELTS. If it weren't for the taxi driver, I would have been unprepared for my exams. It actually matters to me so much, that I am really thankful that he was willing to send us home despite asking us to pay extra money.
*He asked, "Do you mind paying extra?" He wasn't forcing us to do so. Anyway, we intended to give him extra money because it was prior to Deepavali and we understood the burden he is carrying.*

Honestly, many passengers appreciate taxi drivers who are willing to send them although they may not like the places they are heading to. After all, as taxi drivers, don't you all know that you will be facing problems such as traffic jams? Why aren't you taking this in as part of your responsibility? Yes, I understand that you need to earn more money for your family and traffic jams stop you from doing so, but deep in your hearts, which is of more importance: money or ethics?

Alright, I'm not from a wealthy family, nor am I from a poor family. Just the average one. But I'll answer my own question. If I were to be in your shoes, I would answer 'ethics'. Because I know, I have an important responsibility. Because I know that I can create a difference in people's lives no matter how small they are. Because I know that although I don't earn much or have to return home late, my family would be proud of me for having good ethics in work. And I know, God helps those who are ethical and not money-minded, whether He blesses us with happiness, money, food, good health or anything. 

I would like to share this religious talk by a respected sheikh. He stated that people these days, Muslims and non-Muslims, are money-minded. Too busy chasing after wealth that they have forgotten their connection to God and what their responsibilities really are. We have forgotten God's desired path in worshiping Him through our daily actions. Whether you are Muslim or non-Muslim, I'm sure some of my readers believe in God. And I'm sure you would agree that people these days are inclined towards money instead of God. In the end, when one dies and faces God, he won't be bringing wealth with him. Rather, he will be accompanied  and judged by his deeds.

Isn't ethic part of deeds?

*Note: Not all taxi drivers are hostile. But the hostile ones usually won't send passengers whose destinations involve traffic jams. For an example, if you are going to KL Sentral, Taman Desa or UM from Mid Valley, they will still send you because they don't really have to face traffic jams. But if you're going to Subang, Cheras or Damansara from Mid Valley, keep your fingers crossed and pray hard for an ethical taxi driver.

*This is a warning to both local and foreign passengers. There are taxi drivers who don't use meters but in lieu, burn a hole in your pockets by giving you exorbitant taxi fees. For instant, if the taxi driver uses a meter and sends you from Kuala Lumpur Conventional Centre to Taman Maluri, it will cost you around RM6 (without traffic jam) and around RM10 (with traffic jam). But it you will have to pay RM20 for the same distance, with or without traffic jam, if your taxi driver is not fond of the meter.

*Sorry if I had offended anyone's feelings but I'm just voicing out my opinions.