Public, interest groups laud SOS button directive

KUALA LUMPUR: A directive for all ride-hailing application operators in Malaysia to have their systems fitted with panic buttons has been welcomed by the public and interest groups.

The feature, which is modeled after Uber India’s SOS button, is meant for passengers to send distress calls directly to the police with only one click. The police would then be pinged on the location of the passenger.

This instruction issued by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) on Thursday has been hailed as timely by public transport operators and women rights activists on the heels of three crime cases implicating Uber drivers over the past few weeks.

However, they said there was need for the police, who had yet to be consulted on their role in this matter, to help and for SPAD to stipulate a timeline for the button to be installed.

Public Transport Users Association president Ajit Johl also supported the move.

“We have suggested this. We hope the button works two-ways. Drivers should be able to issue distress alerts, too, when their safety is threatened by passengers. But, the police must agree to help and the new law, which has yet to be passed in Parliament, must empower police to act.”

Ajit was referring to the Land Public Transport Act 2010 amendment, which aims to regulate services using ride-hailing applications. It is expected to be tabled for a second reading in Dewan Rakyat in July.

Frequent user of ride-hailing applications, Tia Lokman, said the directive would boost user confidence after the recent incidents.

“However, we still need to know whether the police will spring into action when a distress call is made.”

Tia said ride-hailing operators should make the installation of cameras a requirement in cars subscribing to their apps.

Women’s Aid Organisation communication officer Tan Heang-Lee also stressed the need to have a timeline for the implementation of the panic button.