I was in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday night on a long layover between Malaysia Airlines flights. I needed a haircut and wanted a massage, so I hopped on the KLIA Express train to KL Sentral and there picked up an Uber to Bukit Bintang, the thriving heart of KL. The airport does have a 24-hour paid spa, but even factoring in the $20 train ticket, I still came out way ahead.
I got my haircut ($3), 60-minute massage ($15), had a shawarma ($1.25) and then decided to call an Uber back to the railway station. I noticed I was in an area surrounded by red taxi cabs — about a dozen — with drivers standing around chatting.
One noticed I was waiting and offered me a ride. I declined and said that I was using Uber. He became incensed and said, “That’s wrong man. This our livelihood. I suggest you get the Uber somewhere else because if your driver comes here we are are going to hurt you both and destroy his car.”
Honestly, I thought he was joking. I chuckled and said, “Come on now. I’d use you if you accepted credit cards. Do you?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Why should we? We better not see that Uber.”
I still did not think he was serious, but I crossed the street (it was a divided road with a center median) and picked up my Uber on the other side, without incident.
We returned to KL Sentral for my train back to the airport without incident.
Then Lucky posted this—
A female tourist was left injured after more than 50 taxi drivers struck the Uber car she was traveling in at KL Sentral yesterday.
According to the China Press, the incident occurred on Monday morning when the Iranian couple, who had recently touched-down in Malaysia, were using the Uber service.
More than 50 taxi drivers, who were “hiding” in KL Sentral, pounced on them as soon as they entered the Uber car.
The couple, along with the Uber driver, were pulled out of the car before the suspects used rocks to break the car window.
The injured female tourist was then taken to the Kuala Lumpur Hospital for treatment.
Folks, this easily could have been me. I was right there. Same spot, one day later.
Will this make me avoid Uber? Not at all — it will make me more likely to use Uber and avoid taxis. I hope the thugs who did this are brought to justice and I am very grateful the same thing did not happen to me. Had I been a little more flippant, perhaps the same thing would have happened to me.
Here’s what I do not get about taxis — there were about 75 cars lined up at KL Sentral waiting for a pickup. Imagine waiting three hours and then getting someone like me who just wanted to go to Bukit Bintang, an 8 Ringitt ($2) ride. Uber isn’t to blame for taxi drivers going out of business — they are to blame for not innovating and adapting to the changing times.
When I am Germany, where Uber is still banned, taxi apps like MyTaxi at least provide an easy way to order a cab and pay by credit card. The thugs in KL would be better served spending their time working on a similar solution rather than resorting to violence and criminality in response to a changing world.
I had a few similar experiences with uber in KL. I never had any issue getting picked up at the hotel, but other places were more of a concern such as you experienced. I used Uber for a airport trip, and the driver wouldn’t take me all the way to the drop off area because he “saw taxis parked there”. This was almost a year ago, so it seems like little has changed.
The attitude of these taxi drivers is another perfect example of why I go out of my way to avoid taxis whenever possible.
In KL and other places in SE Asia, there is an app called My Teksi (now called Grab) which usually allows ordering of cars and credit card payment. There seem to be options out there…but still probably subject to the mob mentality of taxi drivers.
Taxi drivers in KL have always seemed a little shady to me. Long before Uber, my wife and I hopped in a cab to go to KL Sentral to take the Airport Express or whatever it’s called from there. The guy starts pressuring us to let him take us to the airport instead. Eventually he gave up after several emphatic “NO”s. Definitely creeped me out a little.
Geez this is scary. I just read Lucky’s post last night and then this! I have not tried Uber or taking a cab in KL but having used Uber in the US, Australia and the Philippines, I can see more and more reasons Not to take the cab. Its great you had the presence of mind to cross the road, and also in a way, good that the cab driver forewarned you of what’s to happen. Imagine if he didn’t and him and his posse just pounced on you and the Uber driver!
Wow, incredible. It’s stories like these that re-affirm my thoughts of no longer using taxis. Glad you’re okay!
I live in KL and often I would advocate to taking ‘precautionary steps’ whenever you are hailing for Uber. i.e. wait at the nearest hotel lobby, take the front passenger seat, avoid waiting around taxi queues, don’t keep holding your phone and staring at it.
The taxi vs Uber has always been a discussion and has recently picked up some heat again (the last time taxi drivers assaulted & pull someone out the car in KLCC last Nov I think)
In any case, the government is also in the midst of building and completing a Mass Transit Railway system. This is going to hurt the taxis further and I wonder what’s going to happen…
Is there any valid reason why Uber should be banned in Germany? Or is it a pure giveaway to the taxi industry? Taxis are not cheap in Germany!
I dislike giving even more money to the likes of Google and Uber but in KL there is no alternative
The concept of transporting passengers from A to B in safety and reasonable comfort for a sensible price simy does not compute with KL taxis
Now I only use Uber x in KL or Black at X surge times (Black seems to have fewer surge periods)
@Carl: Government red tape in Germany is particularly egregious, for better and for worse. The taxis are well protected, at least for now.