Taxi operator against the proposed service

PETALING JAYA: A taxi operator is against the government’s move to allow motorcycle e-hailing services in the country.

Likening the move as encouraging more Malaysian youths to become despatch riders, Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said the people deserve better.

“The Pakatan Harapan manifesto, among others, supports a creative young generation that is free from oppression and looks to empower youths.

“Is this what should be done in empowering youths, by encouraging them to become despatch riders? Making it a career will not ensure a promising future and our youth,” he said.

In late 2016, Dego Ride made a short-lived attempt to introduce motorcycle taxis but was quickly snuffed out by the Transport Ministry, which shut down Dego’s attempt in early 2017.

However, the Land Public Transport Commission or SPAD (now the Land Public Transport Agency), the master planner and regulator of the public transport industry, was more receptive to the idea as it saw that the country needed to be open to all possibilities to bridge that crucial “last mile” between transport hubs – either train and bus stations – and homes or offices.

SPAD’s stand was also influenced by the many petitions from those in the B40 (bottom 40%) group, who wrote to the commission which was then under the Prime Minister’s Department, appealing for the service to be legalised as it made a difference to their livelihood.

SPAD then brought the matter to the attention of the minister in charge of the commission that time, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

Gojek is an Indonesian e-hailing company based in Jakarta.

Shamsubahrin said Malaysia has no need for motorcycle e-hailing as the city has decent public transport coverage as compared with Indonesia.

“Gojek is suitable in Indonesia because their poverty rate is high.

“And unlike Malaysia, their culture is different. Women in Indonesia can touch or hold onto the riders, who are mostly men, but how about Malaysia? Do we want the same thing here?” he asked.

The latest development is good news for former Dego rider Muhammad Firdaus, 32, a freelance photographer.

“I am happy with the Cabinet’s decision as it will indirectly raise the national income. Being an e-hailing rider is actually easier than being a e-hailing driver, as the latter requires a Public Service Vehicle licence,” he said.

Source: TheStar