According to The Straits Times, Nee Soon GRC MP Lee Bee Wah asked in Parliament on Monday, July 11, if there has been "any measurement to show that actually Uber and GrabCar bring positive impact to our commuters".

"If not, then why should we have them in Singapore, and create so much unhappiness among the taxi drivers?" she asked, rather innocently.

These questions she asked came after her initial question filed for oral answer in session:

To her follow-up request for "measurement", though, ex-Chief of Defence Force and now Senior Minister of State for Transport Ng Chee Meng threw her some typical one-for-all-all-for-one army rhetoric:

"If you completely level the playing field, it means that the private-hire cars will have street hail privileges as well," he said. "This will not bring necessarily the outcomes we desire."

And he is not wrong, you know.

Regardless, here are eight pieces of evidence off the top of my head that Uber and Grab does have a positive impact on commuters because taxi drivers are stuck in an outdated industry:

1. Commuters can now actually get from Point A to Point B instead of waiting at the side of the road or taxi stand for a cab that will almost never come on a Friday night especially when it is raining. In town.

2. Commuters can just push a few buttons on their mobile phone screens, sit back and a car will show up at their door or void deck to take them anywhere they summoned it to take them. Without surcharge even after midnight.

3. Property agents can now monetise their personal cars for extra income opportunity, allowing commuters to network with property agents.

4. If the taxi you flagged down by the road doesn't want to take you to where you want to go (i.e. Jurong West), you can say "diu lei" and summon an Uber or Grab.

5. Even if you have no cash in your purse, you can still ride.

6. At the airport, you take Uber or Grab because the driver is okay with the fact that you stay in Tampines or Simei.

7. There is no such thing as "Change Shift".

8. Because when commuters take Uber or Grab, they are not helping to finance the ComfortDelGro's CEO and board of directors' houses.

Top photo via Lee Bee Wah Facebook page

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