Well, it appears that our tourism industry has become world known - only that it is all for the wrong reasons! I refer to the recent media reports where it was reported that our Tourism Minister was embarrassed by complaints by international tour agencies about Malaysian cabbies who were overcharging tourists.

Why should we be surprised that the notorious cabbies have once again hijacked the good name Malaysia is trying so hard to carve out for itself in the tourism industry? Did our Tourism Minister have to go all the way to Dubai to know this? After all, we Malaysians have been lamenting about this for so long.

How is it that when foreigners say the same thing, it suddenly dawns on the powers-that-be that this is a major problem in our country? Taxi drivers in Penang, a major tourist city in the country, have arrogantly stated over and over again that they will not use the meter under the current fare structure and have justified their law-breaking decisions in the press over and over again.

Markimam Kobiram of the CVLB has consistently said 'action will be taken' and yet this remains mere lip service. As long as CVLB continues to provide lip service and not hold these errant cabbies responsible for ruining all the effort and money put in the VMY 2007 campaign, we will continue to lose out to our neigbours who are also working very hard to draw tourists to their countries.

If our closest neighbour is able to ensure that taxi drivers comply with the law, why is it the CVLB is having such a tough time doing the same here in Malaysia? I am inclined to think that CVLB has outlived its usefulness and should be shut down before we become the laughing stock of the world.

It appears that a recent survey that cited cabbies as the No 2 liability for the VMY 2007 was a indeed a very accurate survey. What a way to put ourselves on the tourism map of world!