Why pick on ride-hailing?

THE newly-minted transport minister has laid down the law that online ride-hailing vehicles must comply with pretty much the same regulations as licensed taxis.
For the time being we shall ignore the fact that they are two different animals and the minister's call is pretty much the demise of ride-hailing services which are meant to be ad hoc and help to provide alternative income to wage earners.
What irks me is why the authorities even want to make ride-hailing like the taxis when taxi drivers in certain areas are sloppy and arrogant, while their vehicles are not clean and often run by rent-seekers.
Why don't they demand that taxi drivers improve their act and respond on predetermined terms and on call, like ride-hailing drivers do?
I am all for level playing fields if the products are on par.
The minister cannot be unaware that taxi service disappoints on so many counts.
If he doesn't know that yet, he should hail a taxi at any mall, starting with KLCC and meet the taxi thugs.
Then tell us if the nation needs two similar services.
Maniam Sankar
Kuala Lumpur