PETALING JAYA: E-hailing drivers can make about RM4,000 to RM7,000 a month, but a large bulk of it – about RM1,200 to RM1,600 – goes to fuel.
Now, they face a harsh reality with oil prices soaring due to the conflict in the Middle East.
Subsidised fuel prices are likely to go up, and their take home pay is likely to suffer.
Many are already struggling with rising operating costs, like insurance and vehicle maintenance, said Grab Drivers Malaysia Association president Mohd Azril Ahmat.
“If petrol prices increase, drivers are not prepared for it. But if it happens, we will still have to bear the burden,” he said.
Mohd Azril said there had been no major discussions among drivers yet, as many are still waiting to see how the situation develops.
“So far we have not seen serious discussions within the e-hailing driver community because the impact has not happened yet.
“But if it does, drivers will likely continue working with smaller profit margins,” he said.
The government has said it can maintain subsidised RON95 prices for a couple of months, but if the conflict continues, fuel prices will rise.
Mohd Azril hopes the government will continue supporting gig drivers if that happens.
“The government could at least maintain some form of fuel subsidy for e-hailing drivers because we are part of the public transport ecosystem,” he said.
Gabungan E-Hailing Malaysia chief activist Masrizal Mahidin agrees, saying fuel remains one of the biggest operational costs for most gig drivers, and they are not prepared for a sudden price hike.
Masrizal said the drivers currently have limited ways to cope as fares are largely determined by platform systems.
“Many try to adapt by focusing on peak hours, reducing idle time and managing fuel consumption more carefully, but these are only short-term adjustments.
“If petrol prices have to be adjusted, mitigation measures should be considered for gig drivers,” he added.
Logistics expert Gary Foong said the direct impact on the logistics industry itself may be limited because most commercial transport vehicles run on diesel, which is already unsubsidised.
However, he said the broader economic impact would be felt by workers and regular road users.
“The secondary tier – workers and employees who commute daily – could feel the pressure,” he said.
Motorists say they are already preparing for the possibility of higher fuel costs.
Caleb Fang, a 24-year-old marketing executive, said he was disappointed that the subsidised petrol price may only be maintained for a limited time.
He hopes the price increase, if it happens, will be moderate.
“I hope it would not exceed RM2.10 per litre if the subsidy cannot be maintained.
“We were just starting to enjoy stable petrol prices, but I understand that global conflicts can affect fuel costs,” he said.
