‘New transport rules can be enforced before gazetting’
> Liow: Amendments have been given the nod by lower house
KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that all amendments under the approved Land Public Transport Act 2010 and the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 can in fact come into force before being gazetted as law.
Liow said this was because the lower house had given its approval for the amendments to come into force and this was in accordance with the law.
“However, the enforcement is only limited to those that have been agreed upon by all.
“We will still proceed with the legal process which is to table the amendments in Dewan Negara and have them approved and gazetted,” Liow said after officiating the Blossom Arts Festival Malaysia (BAFM) 2017 at Wisma MCA yesterday.
He also said legalising e-hailing services would help to create a level playing field for all taxis and e-hailing operators.
“At the same time, the legalising (process) would also strengthen the nation’s digital economy as it would allow the taxi industry to utilise digital services to operate.”
Liow said he hoped the amendments could be gazetted and implemented by this year.
He was commenting on a statement by Big Blue Taxi Facilities Sdn Bhd adviser Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail that e-hailing operators Uber and Grab should not claim that their services are now legal as the amendments that regulate their services have yet to be approved by the Dewan Negara.
Under the approved amendments, all e-hailing operators must obtain an intermediation business licence from a regulatory body to operate.
The Land Public Transport Commission is the regulatory body in Peninsular Malaysia, while the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board regulates for Sabah and Sarawak.
The amendments also make it an offence for any person to assault, hinder or obstruct those involved in ehailing services.
Those convicted may be liable to a fine of RM1,000, imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both upon conviction.