UBER LAUDS GOVT SUPPORT FOR E-HAILING INDUSTRY

KUALA LUMPUR: Uber says the government’s support for the e-hailing industry will empower more Malaysians, allowing the choice to use technology for flexible earnings opportunities.

Uber general manager for Malaysia and Singapore, Warren Tseng, said the move would subsequently raise their socioeconomic status.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also Finance Minister, announced a RM5,000 cash grant for taxi drivers intending to join the e-hailing industry, when tabling the 2018 Budget, here, yesterday.

“Our UberFLASH and UberTAXI products, which include taxis, have grown to hundreds of thousands of trips every week since launching in September,” said Tseng in a statement.

Uber has confirmed that its partnership with Proton and Bank Simpanan Nasional is underway.

“We expect to announce the first recipients under this project soon.

“As the government continues to make good progress on the implementation of the TITP (Taxi Industry Transformation Programme), which is aimed at improving the entire industry particularly by ensuring public safety and protecting consumers, Uber is also preparing to help interested e-hailing drivers meet the standards set,” said Tseng.

Similar to its Fastlane Programme that was successfully implemented in Singapore to facilitate an efficient and effective transition during the implementation of their Private Hire Car Driver’s Vocational Licence regulation, Uber expects to apply the lessons learnt in the neighbouring market to ensure an efficient and effective transition to this new regulatory environment for Malaysian driver-partners.