Cabbies to help combat crimes with MyTeksi app

Taxi drivers will soon be the 'eyes and ears' of the authorities in efforts to curb crimes in the state.

Johor police contingent headquarters corporate communications, Supt Venugopal Navaretnam said the cooperation would be intensified through the use of a new function in MyTeksi application, namely 'PDRM'.

"All taxi drivers can help prevent crimes by channeling information on crimes or accidents straight to the control centre at the police headquarters via the application," he told reporters after launching the MyTeksi application at the state police headquarters here Tuesday evening.

Navaretnam said it was a strategic cooperation between police and company operating MyTeksi application which offers taxi booking application via smart phone.

He said through the application function, the taxi driver could disseminate information via smart phones to police headquarters and later to the related stations.

Through the application, taxi drivers can also find the locations of police headquarters and stations with global positioning system (GPS).

Navaretnam said MyTeksi application which was initially designed to assist people get taxi service online, had been upgraded to enable taxi drivers channel information on crimes and accidents to police.

Meanwhile, MyTeksi Sdn Bhd general manager Jaygan Fu said the effort would help restore public confidence against the negative perception of cab drivers.

As at October 15, 2014, 2,000 taxi drivers in Johor have been registered with MyTeksi application.