PSV MODULE UNAVAILABLE
RTD D-G had said module for e-hailing drivers would be ready by April 1
E-HAILING service providers have yet to obtain the module for the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, which was supposed to have been issued to them and operators of driving academies nationwide by April 1.
Diff Global Solutions Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Hannah Yong said she learnt that the module would be available only this week.
The company is the owner of diffride launched in August last year.
“The module has not been circulated. I heard (that it would be made available only) next week,”
she told the New Straits Times.
Decentralised Alternative Cabs Serving and Empowering Everyone (Dacsee) representative Faizul Ezmin said the e-hailing company had yet to obtain a copy of the module.
“I have yet to see it. I am not sure when it will be available. I am more concerned about our drivers. The deadline for them to obtain the PSV licence is only three months away,” he said.
Another e-hailing service company was also waiting for the module to be distributed.
“We checked with several driving academies last week when it was announced that the module would be available on April 1. They are also waiting for the module to be released,” a company spokesman said.
Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Shaharuddin Khalid had last week told the NST four e-hailing companies had been authorised to manage their own PSV training facilities.
Among the four companies are Dacsee and Grab Malaysia.
Shaharuddin had said the PSV module for e-hailing drivers would be made available at any 211 driving academies and e-hailing centres by April 1.
On contingency plans by the ehailing companies to ensure that their drivers meet the deadline, Yong and Faizul said they were looking into providing one-stop services for their drivers.
Yong said: “We are trying many ways to help our drivers to sign up and provide them a one-stop service (soon).
“However, we are not sure if the agencies are prepared to take the influx of applicants. We foresee a huge shrink in the industry when the regulation takes place.”
Faizul said setting up a onestop centre was the only way to ensure Dacsee drivers meet the deadline set by the Transport Ministry, which has refused any extension.
NST has learnt that e-hailing drivers must undergo a medical examination to apply for the licence.
After passing the medical examination, they would be called to attend a six-hour-long training at the driving academies.
They would then have to wait for a call from the RTD or driving academies on the date for them to sit the exam.
After passing the exam, the ehailing drivers are required to send their vehicles for inspection at the Computerised Vehicle Inspection Centre (Puspakom) if their vehicle is more than three years old.
E-hailing drivers will obtain their PSV licence after completing this four-step process.
Apart from that, e-hailing drivers will receive a Kad Pemandu Elektronik (EKP) and Electronic Vehicle Permit from the Land Public Transport Agency.
Drivers are required to print the EKP. They would then need to pay another visit to RTD to have their road tax stickers changed to “AH” for e-hailing.
The NST also learnt that each driving academy can train only up to 50 applicants at a time. This is because RTD will train only five trainers from each academy and each trainer can train only 10 people.