Conversation with a S’pore cab driver

Driver: So taxis drivers in Malaysia are unscrupulous lot huh?

Me: Huh? What? Hmmm....yea

Driver: Here if we don’t use rate meters, we will get suspended immediately. We have strict enforcement.

Me: Oh? Well.....

Driver: Some of our drivers are also bad lots but they have been sacked permanently. They can’t drive taxis in Singapore anymore.

Me: Is it? That’s good.

Driver: Yea! Enforcement is very strict here. Not like in your country. There they just cheat!

Me: Hmm...(Feeling totally, utterly unable to say anything to defend our drivers)

(And he gave me a receipt at the end of my short journey. At least three other taxi drivers rounded up the fare to the nearest dollar, allowing me to keep the cents.)

p/s: Maybe the ONE foreign trip which the JPJ or the taxi licensing board should take is to across the Causeway to see how they enforce discipline among their taxi drivers and how they manage to keep the cabs clean.