KUALA LUMPUR — The Land Public Transport Transformation Association (TPAD) has urged the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) to urgently reform enforcement protocols, warning that e-hailing drivers are increasingly being treated as criminal accomplices for offences committed by passengers.
Its president Nathan Mathivanan cited a growing number of cases in which drivers are detained, remanded, and have their vehicles and mobile phones seized after unknowingly transporting individuals linked to criminal activities. He did not provide any numbers to support the claim.
According to him, the trend exposes serious gaps in enforcement and protections for gig workers, leaving drivers without income and under significant emotional strain during prolonged investigations.
“The reality that must be acknowledged is that e-hailing drivers are simply service providers, responsible only for transporting passengers from one point to another,” he said.
Nathan stressed that drivers have no authority or access to conduct background checks on passengers prior to accepting bookings, raising concerns over the accountability of e-hailing platforms.
He questioned why stricter action has not been taken against platforms that allow users to access services without adequate safety screening, arguing that systemic weaknesses are enabling abuse.
The consequences, he said, extend beyond individual cases, with lengthy remand periods depriving drivers of their livelihoods while exposing them to undue stress.
“This continued inaction not only penalises innocent workers but also creates opportunities for criminals to exploit e-hailing platforms,” he added, warning that such vulnerabilities could erode trust and long-term viability in the industry.
As interim safeguards, Nathan advised drivers to install three-channel, high-definition dashcams with cloud storage to preserve evidence, and called on the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to make such devices mandatory.
He also proposed that, under the Gig Workers Act 2025, drivers be given the right to reject suspicious passengers without penalty, alongside reforms to reduce reliance on fully automated job acceptance systems.
Among other measures, Nathan suggested introducing a distinct identification system for e-hailing vehicles, such as specially marked white number plates, to improve monitoring by authorities. It also called for controlled access to vehicle data for enforcement agencies to curb misuse.
However, he emphasised that these measures are not a substitute for systemic reform.
“The responsibility ultimately lies with both the government and platform operators to fix structural weaknesses in the system,” he said.
Nathan added that while the Transport Ministry has shown support for measures such as vehicle identification and mandatory dashcams, KDN has yet to respond to formal correspondence sent in February 2026 regarding arrest procedures.
“The delay is deeply disappointing and raises serious questions about the priority given to driver safety,” he said.
TPAD is expected to submit a formal memorandum to the government, with Nathan warning that drivers’ patience is wearing thin.
“E-hailing drivers are not criminals. They are hardworking citizens who deserve proper protection under the law.” – April 15, 2026