No plans for Go-Jek ride-hailing in Malaysia, accident rate among bikers too high, says Loke

KUALA LUMPUR: There are no plans to introduce motorcycle ride-hailing services in the country, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook.

"My personal view is that we are not ready to introduce ride-hailing and there are no plans to do it," he said when replying to a question raised by Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) in Parliament on Tuesday (July 31).

Khairy proposed that ride-hailing, such as Indonesia's Go-Jek, be introduced here as an alternative means of public transportation.

Loke noted that motorcycle accidents were very high and introducing ride-hailing would mean even more motorcycles on the road.

"Also, it would not be easy to regulate ride-hailing and it would end up becoming a big issue like what happened to e-hailing," he added.

Loke said the matter could be studied by the Land Transport Commission Public (SPAD) if there was a specific proposal.

Asked when will the Government carry out a study to the mass rapid transit line 3 (MRT3) project that had been scrapped, Loke said that the matter was for the Cabinet to decide.

At the moment, Loke said that the Government's priority was managing the nation's debt.

"I am certain that a study to revive the MRT3 project would be done once the nation's finances and economy are better," he added.

He noted that the Government would focus on increasing the use of public transportation, particularly in the Klang Valley.

Based on statistics, Loke said that the current MRT lines recorded 146,842 commuters out of a 450,000 capacity between January and May this year.

He added that a study is being done to determine the cost behind the introduction of a RM100 unlimited travel transportation pass for commuters.

Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had initially announced on May 30 that the estimated RM40bil MRT3 project would be scrapped.

However, it was later announced that the project was deferred and not cancelled.