Dego Ride can only operate with SPAD approval, says JPJ chief

PETALING JAYA: The controversial motorcycle taxi service provider Dego Ride may continue to operate if it gets approval from the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), said the Road Transport department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron.

Nadzri said the public should not use the transport service until the service provider gets the green light from SPAD.

He said that he was giving the company an opportunity to operate legally.

“As of now, we will not be too hasty. We will remind passengers first.

“We are also informed that the company would like to apply for the permit to operate from SPAD,” he told mStar Online.

He said that his department could only take action against the riders if SPAD informed them that the company could not operate such a service.

“If SPAD does not give any permission and we find riders are still operating, we will issue them a summons for misuse of a private vehicle.

“I urge the public not to use the service for now because passengers would be endangering their lives by using an unlicensed service,” he said.

On Saturday, mStar Online reported that Dego Ride would continue to provide the motorcycle service in the Klang Valley even though the Transport Ministry had ordered JPJ to take action against it.

Dego Ride founder and CEO Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj said they would continue to operate because there was no provision in the law that forbade them from offering the service.

He said that he had been discussing the matter with SPAD.

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said a study should be carried out on whether motorcycles may be listed as public transport for commercial purpose to ferry passengers.

The Dego Ride service started in November last year and bookings can be made via WhatsApp.

The rates are RM2.50 for the first 3km and 60 sen for each subsequent kilometre.