SEPANG: Hundreds of passengers were left in the lurch when budget taxi drivers at the low-cost carrier terminal (LCCT) went on strike yesterday.

However, premier taxis and the terminal's buses were operating.

More than 600 taxi drivers refused to provide transport to customers as they felt that the sale of budget taxi coupons were being tampered with.

Taxi Drivers Welfare Association committee member S. Sri Tharan said budget taxi drivers were irked by what they claimed were biased ticketing operations.

He claimed taxi operator Mesra Indah Jaya Sdn Bhd had been promoting the premier service more than the budget one.

"There are usually around three rows of budget taxis for hire and one row of the premier taxis.

"Today (yesterday), there were seven rows of premier taxis and it seemed absurd that so many people would choose premier taxis over the budget ones," said Sri Tharan, who has been a taxi driver for 18 years.

Mesra Indah Jaya assistant manager Nor Hisam Bajuri denied Sri Thrana's claims.

He said no instructions had been given to staff to limit sales of budget taxi services. He did, however, promise to investigate the matter. Nevertheless, the taxi drivers were not satisfied with the assurance.

They also complained about having to pay nine per cent commission as well as toll charges.

Gary Chong, the special assistant to Seputeh member of parliament and Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, attempted to diffuse the situation by inviting the drivers to a meeting today.

The drivers accepted the invitation but still refused to take passengers until their grouses were addressed.