Taxi Drivers To Be Made Tourism 'Ambassadors' - Minister

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- Some 4,000 taxi drivers in the Klang Valley with commendable front-line qualities will be appointed as tourism 'ambassadors' from next month. Tourism Minister Dr Ng Yen Yen said they would be looking for non-smoking taxi drivers who possesed basic communication skills and particularly, good upkeeping of cleanliness of their vehicle. The programme, an initiative of the ministry, was to recognise the important role of taxi drivers and raising their awareness and attitude towards rendering high-quality service, she said. Speaking to reporters after launching the 1Malaysia Grand Prix (GP) Sale at The Pavilion, here, Tuesday, Dr Ng said the programme would begin in mid-March with 100 taxi drivers to be recruited for the pilot project. She said the ministry would collaborate with taxi associations to identify eligible taxi drivers for the programme. "After they have been selected by our appointed judges, the taxi drivers will be undergoing a one-day awareness course organised by the ministry where we will explain to them their role as tourism ambassadors," she said. Dr Ng said the ministry viewed seriously, complaints from the public and tourists against taxi drivers, especially regarding their attitude and meter compliance. On the 1Malaysia GP Sale, Ng said it would help to promote Malaysia as a duty-free shopping destination. The 1Malaysia GP Sale will be held from March 10 to April 15, offering shoppers fabulous bargains and discounts. The launching ceremony was preceded with the minister taking a walk through the newly-opened covered fully air-conditioned pedestrian walkway linking the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) and Bukit Bintang, two major retail and tourism spots in the Malaysian capital. The 562 metre-long and five-metre wide elevated walkway opens from 6am to 11pm daily. It traverses the busy areas of Jalan Pinang, Jalan Perak and Jalan Raja Chulan with escalator and staircase entry and exit points at strategic and convenient locations. The elevated walkway forms a major portion of 1.173 km of pedestrian linkages connecting KLCC to Bukit Bintang and is equipped with closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras and security guards. -- BERNAMA