JPJ cracks down on illegal e-hailing firm
BUTTERWORTH: An illegal e-hailing company which has been operating here for a few months came under the spotlight when the Road Transport Department (JPJ) detained 11 of its drivers.
They were nabbed during an operation in Penang on Wednesday after authorities received complaints from e-hailing drivers’ associations, alleging that the drivers were using an illegal e-hailing application.
State JPJ director Adenan Md Isa said the operation was carried out by 30 personnel and the special operations unit of the department, with some impersonating as the public.
The drivers’ cars were impounded.
“The company had been in operation for some time but didn’t register with the Public Land Transport Agency (APAD), while its drivers have no E-Hailing Vehicle Permit (EVP).
“Our investigations showed that the company tried to lure e-hailing drivers to use its illegal application without any charges and carry passengers, which is against the Public Land Transport Act.
“Our investigations also revealed that the company had international operations in 31 countries offering similar services.
“A few of the 11 drivers nabbed are licensed e-hailing drivers.
“They claimed the illegal one was better because of the low charges, which gave them higher profit,” Adenan said during a press conference at the state JPJ headquarters here yesterday.
He said action would be taken against the 11 under Section 16(1) APAD Act 2010 and their cars would be impounded for a month.
If found guilty, they can be fined from RM1,000 up to RM10,000 or jailed for a year or both.
Meanwhile, Malaysia E-hailing Drivers Association (Mehda) called on e-hailing drivers to avoid using illegal applications because both driver and passengers would not be covered by insurance.
“It will create more complications if an accident were to happen. The illegal operator had been operating for months in Penang,” said Mehda president Daryl Chong.
He said Mehda lodged a report with JPJ on the illegal company.