Over 50% taxi passengers use e-hailing apps — Nancy

KUALA LUMPUR: More than 50 percent of taxi users use the smart phones or e-hailing applications to get taxi service, said Minister in the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

However, she said, only 14 percent of taxi drivers used the same service to obtain passengers.

Nancy said taxi drivers should utilise the technology to improve the quality of the service.

“The e-hailing service should be seen as a competitor to the conventional taxi operating method and as an opportunity for the taxi driver to balance service offers with market demands and trend,” she said when tabling the Land Public Transport (Amendment) Bill 2017 for the second reading in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

The Bill, among others, proposes that the definition of ‘e-hailing’ is included in the First Schedule of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 and makes the service, among others, Grabcar and Uber a legitimate public service.

Nancy said e-hailing service should be permitted to operate as intermediary services, subject to provisions and legal enforcement.

“The regulatory move is to ensure the use of technology brings a positive impact not only to taxi drivers, e-hailing vehicle drivers and passengers but also gives room to local entrepreneurs who are keen to explore opportunities in the industry through the development of local application systems,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kuala Selangor MP Datuk Seri Dr Irmohizam Ibrahim, when debating the bill, suggested the creation of a databank on individuals registering to be drivers for taxi and e-hailing services for the protection of consumers.

He said this was important to facilitate vetting by SPAD and the police so as to ensure that only individuals who are free of criminals records will be allowed to provide the services.

“To further improve this bill, I feel it is timely that such a databank is created for drivers of taxis or the Uber and Grab ehailing services,” he said.

He went on to suggest that the “free contract” used by ehailing service operators be reviewed for security and safety purposes as well as insurance protection.

He also mooted a one-stop e-hailing application to be undertaken by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation to provide comprehensive coverage on land public transport in the country.

The Dewan sits again today. - Bernama