Firms have their own screening methods

My advice to passengers is to be aware of the drivers’ ratings. Cancel the booking if the ratings are too low. Khairul Anuar Dahalan

PETALING JAYA: E-hailing companies have their own methods to screen potential drivers, where they are required to submit copies of their MyKad, driver’s licence and vehicle insurance for verification.

A spokesman from Uber said all its driver-partners must undergo a screening process, which includes a detailed background check facilitated by a licensed third-party agency.

“However, our approach to safety doesn’t begin and end with a background check,” he said.

Uber, he said, focused on safety before, during and after the ride by leveraging technology, with features like live GPS tracking, ensuring two-way feedback and the “Share My Trip” feature, which allows people to share their trip details with their family and loved ones.

He added that Uber would con- tinue to review and improve on the processes and technologies so that riders may enjoy safe, reliable and affordable travel.

On the incident in which a 26-year-old pregnant woman was robbed while on an Uber ride recently, the spokesman said it was extremely upsetting.

However, he said it was an isolated incident.

Grab Malaysia country head Seah Goh said potential drivers were asked to submit relevant documents.

The drivers are also asked to attend a face-to-face meeting for physical verification.

“We also make them go through training. They are asked to sit for a test which they are required to pass.

“For the third layer of security, we do background checks on the drivers to look for past civil and criminal records.

“Criminal records, no matter how small, be it petty theft or drug abuse, will be red-flagged by us,” said Goh, adding that drivers were also checked for speeding offences.

He claimed that the background checks were conducted by two external vendors.

Meanwhile, Uber driver Khairul Anuar Dahalan, 46, said the robbery had slightly affected ridership, but he was confident that the situation would improve soon.

“It’s bad for the company also as it tarnishes the name of Uber and other e-hailing services.

“My advice to passengers is to be aware of the drivers’ ratings. Cancel the booking if the ratings are too low,” said Khairul, who maintained a rating of 4.5 stars and above out of a maximum five stars.

The Uber driver whose accomplice robbed the pregnant woman only had a rating of 2.8 stars.

Khairul also hoped that e-hailing companies would impose a condition where a driver’s permission to pick up passengers would be revoked if his ratings fell too low.