KUALA LUMPUR: The introduction of motorcycle e-hailing service could contribute to an increase in crime rate, warned a local taxi company.
Big Blue Taxi founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail said "hooligan" taxi drivers who were blacklisted have moved to the e-hailing platform.
“(Some) blacklisted drivers will find ways to commit crimes; they will never stop,” Shamsubahrin told a press conference at his office, here, today.
He lamented the potential introduction of the bike e-hailing service, saying that it was a political move to gain the support of young voters.
“Why would the government want our youngsters to work as Gojek riders? This is not a stable job and it is not good for their future.
“(Youth and Sports Minister) Syed Saddiq (Syed Abdul Rahman) mooted this because he wants to get support from youngsters,” he claimed.
He however said motorcycle e-hailing service would not affect the taxi industry in the country.
“Taxi and the riders serve different group of consumers; I am confident that it will not affect our business,” he said.
The Cabinet had yesterday allowed Gojek, to operate in the country.
Syed Saddiq had recently expressed his intention to bring Gojek to Malaysia, saying that the motorcycle e-hailing service would create hundreds of thousands of job opportunities for motorcyclists in the country.
Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof however said specific legislation on governing the e-hailing service has yet to be discussed or finalised.
Gojek, an Indonesian-based company presently operates in Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore.