‘Ministry will ensure level playing field for e-hailing, taxi firms’

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry has no plans to eliminate e-hailing services, such as Grab, but is committed to ensuring a level playing field for these companies and taxi operators.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Kamarudin Jaffar said the government wanted to provide equal opportunities to taxi operators and e-hailing companies to ensure fair competition in the industry.

“We can’t get rid of Grab and other e-hailing services, but we will provide equal business opportunities to them and the taxi operators. Grab is a reliable transportation service that is not only available in Malaysia, but all over the world,” he said.

He was commenting on the fracas by taxi drivers who were dissatisfied with the explanation given by Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the e-hailing service issue, at a dialogue session in Langkawi on Sunday.

Dr Mahathir reportedly said Grab would be required to use government-approved vehicles and pay taxes and road insurance similar to taxi operators to ensure a level playing field.

He said the matter had been raised at a cabinet meeting, and he had ordered Transport Minister Anthony Loke to solve the problem.

Several taxi associations had criticised the action taken by the group of taxi drivers, calling it irresponsible.

Commenting on Dr Mahathir’s statement, Kamarudin said the ministry had ensured that the rules and regulations imposed on taxi operators were also applicable to e-hailing companies.

However, he said, its implementation would take time.

“It is done in stages because it involves nearly 600,000 people in the industry. Stakeholders, such as Puspakom and other agencies, need time to register them and ensure the vehicles’ roadworthiness,” he said, adding that there would be a six-month extension period starting January.

Commenting on the incident, including harsh words uttered by a few taxi drivers at Dr Mahathir at the event, Kamarudin said it should not have happened.