Sop Confusion Which One Do We Follow Taxi Association Asks

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Following the government's total lockdown order, the National Security Council (NSC) has issued a new set of guidelines for the latest form of the movement control order (MCO), including a limit on the number of passengers travelling in a vehicle.
However, there seems to be confusion, as pointed out by a taxi drivers' association.
According to the Coalition of Taxi, Rental Cars, Limousine and Airport Cab Associations, there are contradictions in standard operating procedures (SOPs) and orders issued by the authorities.
Its president Kamarudin Mohd Hussain said that the SOP set by the NSC, Transport Ministry and Land Transport Commission, taxi and e-hailing services are only allowed to take one passenger.
This means that there can be only two people in their vehicle at one time, including the driver. An exception has been given to medical-related cases where cabs are allowed to take one more passenger.
"However, a press conference held by the inspector-general of police (IGP) said that we are allowed to take three people at a time, including one driver and two passengers.
"This has created confusion and chaos nationwide. I have received many calls from cab drivers and associations asking about this.
"Thus, we would like to plead to the government to inform us which SOP we should follow," Kamarudin said in a statement.
He was referring to the press conference by IGP Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani on Monday.




Inspector-General of Police Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani
In a related matter, a reader also raised a question regarding the SOP for travelling to get vaccinated.
In the NSC's SOP, it stated that the government allows a maximum of three people to travel together to get medical attention, healthcare services, security matters or emergency cases. The three include the patient who needs to be taken to the destination.
However, it was not stated whether this clause covers travelling for vaccination purposes.
Malaysiakini has forwarded queries to the Defence Ministry, whose minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is in charge of NSC, and the federal police headquarters for clarification.
At the time of writing, a spokesperson for the ministry has responded with an infographic from the Transport Ministry saying that all cabs are only allowed to carry one passenger.
However, for medical attention, immunisation and emergency cases, taxis are allowed to carry two passengers (three people including the driver).



 - Mkini

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