PETALING JAYA: E-hailing drivers want more time for them to obtain the public service vehicle (PSV) license.
Grab Drivers Malaysia Association president Arif Asyraf Ali said the time allocated by the government for the 200,000 e-hailing drivers to apply for their PSV license was insufficient as the module was only introduced on April 1.
“The time frame is too narrow as enforcement will kick-off from July 12. We will have less than three months to obtain the license,” he said.
Arif said the e-hailing drivers are burdened with several issues which curtail them in getting the PSV licence as soon as possible.
This includes driving schools unable to accommodate high number of e-hailing drivers, as only one training session per week is held.
There’s also an issue of high number of failures in a test which is conducted only in Bahasa Malaysia and furthermore the exam does not follow the training module said Arif.
He added that those who fail end up having to wait for a longer period in order to re-sit the exam and this in turn further delays in them receiving their respective PSV licences.
Arif said the physically challenged (OKU) drivers are also affected as they have yet to receive neither information nor guidelines for their PSV application.
He said this in a press conference called by e-hailing drivers’ representatives here today at The Port in Bandar Utama here.
Also present was Dacsee community developer manager Asliza Ali and MyCar Sdn Bhd executive government affairs officer Mohd Shahrizat.
Arif also complained of the high cost, in some cases up to RM1,000 as well as other hidden charges being imposed by driving schools.
He claimed that less than 10 per cent of the 200,000 e-hailing drivers are registered for the PSV license.
Arif said with Hari Raya Aidilfitri in the horizon and other expenses being raked up during Ramadan, e-hailing drivers are under pressure to earn extra income.
On top of this, they still need to raise funds to obtain the PSV licences.
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