KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry today reiterated that Cabinet has only given approval for the “motorcycle taxi service” concept to be introduced in the country – not for any company to begin operations.
Its minister, Anthony Loke, said that Cabinet has yet to make a decision to allow GoJek, the Indonesian motorcycle e-hailing company, to operate here.
"There is a lot of confusion when it comes to the matter. Let me be clear again, the Cabinet has yet to approve GoJek to operate here.
"We only approved a motorcycle e-hailing system to operate, and GoJek is among the e-hailing companies. We did not give any approval to GoJek.
"GoJek, like any other company, needs to abide by the law to carry out any such service in the country," he said after launching a book titled “My Journey By Bus”, here.
He was asked to provide clarification on why Cabinet decided to allow GoJek to enter the Malaysian market and not Dego Ride, a local motorcycle e-hailing company.
Last year, Loke said his ministry would not allow such a service to operate in the country over safety concerns.
On Aug 19, Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman expressed his intention to introduce GoJek in Malaysia.
Following that, Loke said the matter would be brought to Cabinet for approval.
On a move to review the suspension of road tax renewals for private vehicles of 2,000cc and above at post offices in Sabah, Sarawak, Labuan and Langkawi, Loke said that such a move is necessary.
He said that if renewals are not allowed at post offices, an increasing number of people would not renew their road tax and insurance, as it would be seen as a hassle.
"The government would also lose out, and it would be difficult for drivers. If they don't have road tax, they would not have their insurance renewed too," he said, adding that the Road Transport Department (RTD) will issue a statement on the matter soon.