Motorcycle e-hailing on hold over safety concerns

THE introduction of motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia has been put on hold again due to safety reasons, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong.

He said the ministry, at this time, had no plans to introduce motorcycle e-hailing services based on several aspects, particularly safety issues and passenger welfare.

He said this when answering Larry Sng Wei Shien (IND-Julau) yesterday.

He informed the House that the decision to withhold approval for the service was based on fatalities involving motorcyclists.

“Based on statistics from the police released in 2019, some 64% of fatal accidents or about 3,900 deaths out of 6,167 fatalities involved motorcyclists,” he said.

Sng suggested safety guidelines be drafted to allow such services to operate.

“Thailand and Indonesia have allowed companies to operate motorcycle e-hailing services. Your answer is not convincing – neighbouring countries can do it, why not Malaysia? If there are safety concerns, the ministry should introduce strict guidelines instead of stopping motorcycle e-hailing altogether,” he added.

Sum reiterated that the decision not to allow the e-hailing services was based on safety reasons.

Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (IND-Muar) described Sum’s response as “lazy and non-transparent”.

He said there was a decision by the Pakatan Harapan administration in 2019 to conduct a six-month trial to determine if approval should be given for such services.

He said the decision not to allow the service was based on general accident fatalities.

He added that the proposed six-month study would specifically target e-hailing motorcyclists and their passengers.

Syed Saddiq added that the decision not to allow motorcycle e-hailing services would have an adverse impact on companies that had made preparations to offer such services.

Sum said that the ministry would continue to study the issue.

In January 2020, local start-up Dego Ride was to have undergone a six-month trial aimed at regulating the e-hailing service.

Some 700 riders signed up with the company. However, the plan was put on hold following the change of government.