By adding a simple feature on the MyTeksi app, it allowed us to tap into the entire fleet of taxis to be our watchmen. When a kidnapping was reported, taxis within close proximity were alerted via the app. Those drivers who were more likely to report a sighting could help the police make a rescue before the kidnappers got too far away.

MyTeksi is already a mobile app used by the whole nation and 37,300 taxi drivers. We added a MyTeksi Patrol feature to the app that enables the entire fleet of taxi drivers to report suspicious activity in relation to a reported kidnapping.

When MyTeksi Patrol sends an alert, taxi drivers can call the police if they spot the missing child or suspicious activity. They can also share information to social media channels in real time. With cellular geopositioning already built into the app, taxis in the area are immediately alerted to keep watch when a child is reported missing.

Not only has MyTeksi Patrol raised awareness for an important public safety issue, it has taken the step towards building a respectable reputation for taxi drivers in Malaysia. They became more than just taxi drivers- they became a powerful resource as a civilian response team against acts of kidnapping and violent crime against children.

However, MyTeksi Patrol is not simply a campaign with an expiration date. It is a real, open-ended initiative that is continuing to allow taxi drivers to assist the police by keeping the streets safe for the children of Malaysia.