Uber sees big growth in Penang

Foong (right) and Choong posing with a Uber banner during the luncheon in China House, Beach Street.

UBER Malaysia envisions tremendous growth in Penang as it reaches its ninth month in the state.

Its general manager Leon Foong said that just like in other parts of Malaysia, Uber had grown via word of mouth.

"Penang is one of the fastest growing cities when it comes to Uber riders.

"We have thousands of driver partners and tens of thousands of riders in Penang. Throughout Malaysia we have many tens of thousands of driver partners and hundreds of thousands of riders." he said at a luncheon to celebrate its second year in the country in Beach Street recently.

Foong said Uber's "driving partners" ranged from students to salesmen and retirees.

When asked about the legal status of Uber in Malaysia, he declined to elaborate but said they wanted to be regulated in all markets that they entered and were optimistic that they will see something positive.

Uber Everywhere Malaysia general manager Kenny Choong said they hoped to create more than 100,000 new jobs and entrepreneurship opportunities by 2017 through their ‘driver partners’ platform.