The hike has hurt both commuters and taxi drivers. Commuters shun taxis because of the sudden hefty rise, and what was intended to help taxi drivers overcome the hike in fuel prices has resulted in nothing.

Taking the matter further upstream, it is unfair to pass the hike in fuel prices on to commuters. Shouldn't it be the responsibility of the taxi companies to maintain the welfare of the taxi drivers who rent taxis from them? From this point of view, one can even conclude that taxi drivers are the internal customers of taxi companies. However, taxi drivers (and now even commuters) are left to the mercy of taxi companies which are able to increase fares and taxi rents as and when they like.

This situation extends beyond the taxi arena and is seen clearly in the entire public transport system. Train and bus operators can increase fares as they like (subject to the Public Transport Council which almost always approves) because public transport has been deregulated and is operated by private companies.

In a situation where true competition is absent, public services like public transport should have been the responsibility of the public service. Defence, education, health care, public utilities and public transport are some essentials for which every government should be responsible. Public transport has never been allowed to compete freely as no buses from the two major public transport operators have ever plied the same route. Compare this to, for example, the public waste collection system where public waste collectors have to bid for a specific area to collect from. Public transport operators are not under similar pricing pressures to maintain a fair price to the public.

Imagine a scenario where schools and hospitals are deregulated. Although the schools and hospitals are largely left to manage their own cost and administrative issues, the price of services is still very much controlled by the respective ministries. Doctors' professional fees are kept within bands based on complexity of procedures and school fees are maintained by the Ministry of Education. Imagine a day when these are left to the whim and fancy of the institutions themselves. This is exactly where public transport has left the man on the street sorely disappointed and broke.

Chua Kian Tiong