MELAKA – The Transport Ministry has never allowed any e-hailing service provider to use the price bidding system for passengers in Malaysia, said minister Anthony Loke.
He said the ministry was not informed about the matter and as a precaution, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) had been directed to investigate the system currently being used among e-hailing drivers.
“Apad will look into this, and as far as I know, we haven’t approved any such system,” he told the media after an event at the Road Transport Academy in Melaka at Ayer Molek here today.
Also present were Road Transport Department director-general Datuk Rospiagos Taha and its state director Muhammad Firdaus Sharif.
He said this when asked to comment on the growing popularity of e-hailing apps that use a bidding system – whereby e-hailing drivers can set their prices for a journey before customers bid on the fare, provided that the fare rate is agreed upon.
However, this system has raised concerns among public transport users, as it appears to compel passengers to pay higher prices, thus benefiting the drivers more.
In another development, Loke said the investigation report by the special team looking into the allegations in the “JPJandora Papers” would be submitted to the ministry’s secretary-general for review and further action.
He said several weaknesses had been identified, especially concerning the registration of classic number plates.
“These classic numbers were previously registered without a transparent and detailed system because in the 1950s and 1960s, registrations were done manually, without the use of a computer system or app like MySikap.
“Sometimes when these numbers were registered, it was assumed that no one owned them. However, later on, the real owner would come forward to reclaim the number. This raises doubts about our system. To prevent ownership conflicts in the future, we need to tighten and control the registration process,” he added. – May 11, 2024