KUALA LUMPUR - Female passengers can now travel at night without having to worry about their safety with the launch of women-only taxis.

Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Senator Datuk Heng Seai Kie said female users could be assured of comfort and security.

"These taxis will be driven by female drivers and will be welcomed by women who are travelling alone or with children and senior citizens," Heng said after launching the taxi service here in conjunction with International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women at the Bandar Tasik Selatan Integrated Transport Terminal here yesterday.

Heng said the budget taxi was available as a call-in service and three companies were participating; Destination Transport, Zalnas Sdn Bhd and Koperasi Pengangkutan Putrajaya dan Cyberjaya.

Heng said that she expected more taxi companies to follow suit.

"At the moment we have 50 women taxi drivers and we encourage more women to come forward, especially single mothers, housewives and retirees," Heng added.

She said working as a taxi driver provided flexible working hours and it could be done on a part-time or full-time basis.

She expected at least 400 women taxi drivers to operate in the Klang Valley in stages.

Those interested could call 03-8024 0507, 03-2692 6000 and 03-88884020, she added.

On violence against women, Heng said an average of 10 women a day became victims of such acts in the country.