PENANG: Errant taxi drivers who refuse to use their meters from August will have to face the consequences.

Local government and traffic management committee chairman Datuk Dr Teng Hock Nan said yesterday the drivers must cooperate with the state government to successfully implement the meter system.

"For this system to work so that taxis will be part of a reliable public transportation network in the state, we need full cooperation among the state government, the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and the Road Transport Department (RTD)," he said.

At a press conference after launching the HSL Circuit City in Island Plaza, Teng said that "if at first the taxi drivers do not cooperate, we will try to persuade them to use the meter".

"We are a people-friendly government so we will use the persuasion method first," he said.

"If the drivers still do not cooperate, then appropriate action will be taken against them."

Earlier this week, Teng said the meter system will be enforced on Aug 1 and that the government will find ways to improve the taxi drivers' earnings.