KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Hundreds of taxi drivers seem to be in no rush to change or calibrate their meters despite the higher fares they are allowed to charge.

This is because they can make more money tampering with the meters, according to an industry source.

"The taxi drivers realise the new meters cannot be tampered with. Some of them are continuing to use the old ones.

"These are the MacGyvers," said Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdulah, referring to the resourceful secret agent of a popular American adventure television series.

In the past month, the meters of some 24,000 of the 29,000 taxis in Peninsular Malaysia have been changed or calibrated in order to charge the new fares which came into effect on Aug 1. Taxi drivers who have not complied have until the end of the year to do so.

Passengers now pay RM3, instead of RM2, at the start of a journey and 10 sen for every 115 metres travelled, instead of 150 metres.

The Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board's director Datuk Naemah Ramli said about 5,000 taxi meters had yet to be adjusted.

"There must be something wrong with the meters for them not to come forward."

The authorities will replace meters which have been tampered with, while the rest are sent for calibration.

--New Straits Times