JPJ issues summonses to Dego Ride m-cyclists

Dego Ride.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has started action against controversial motorcycle taxi service provider Dego Ride.

As of Monday, the department issued non-compoundable summonses to three Dego Ride riders during routine operations, said JPJ enforcement director Datuk V. Valluvan Veloo.

The summonses were issued under Section 23(2) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which provides for a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not exceeding RM10,000, or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

Valluvan said his department also issued a notice to Dego Ride founder and CEO Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj.

“We issued a notice for the Dego Ride owner to come to JPJ to give a statement. He will be given seven days to do so,” said Valluvan in a press conference Tuesday.

He also advised those who continue to provide the ride service to stop doing so.

“Through our observation, the application for the service is offline so we truly hope they have stopped their operations,” added Valluvan.

The Star's Malay-language portal mstar Online reported Monday that on orders from the Transport Ministry, Dego Ride had instructed its 6,000 motorcyclists to stop operating immediately.

Initially, the operators of Dego Ride said that they would continue services in Kuala Lumpur and claimed that there were no laws to prevent them from operating.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said Monday the Government has no interest in legalising the service due to the high number of road accidents involving motorcycles.

Liow said more than 60% of road fatalities involved motorcycle accidents.

The Dego Ride service began in November last year and bookings can be made via WhatsApp. The rates are RM2.50 for the first 3km and 60 sen for each subsequent kilometre.