KUALA LUMPUR: Women passengers will have the option to choose riders of the same gender for the proposed motorcycle e-hailing service, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said this was among the conditions imposed on companies offering the service.
“We understand the sentiments of the people, especially on women’s safety.
“The government has agreed to conduct a trial period in the Klang Valley to see how this system can be implemented, while looking at issues like safety.
“Among the conditions by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) is to provide option for women pillion riders to choose only women riders.
“While we welcome Indonesian company Gojek, we encourage local companies to expand their services to motorcycle e-hailing,” he said in reply to a supplementary question by Datin Mastura Mohd Yazid (BN-Kuala Kangsar).
Loke said the relevant laws, namely the Land Public Transport Act and Road Transport Act would be amended to include provisions on the service.
On e-hailing, he said as of Dec 2, there were 91,978 licensed e-hailing drivers in Malaysia.
Another 42,818 drivers had failed their exams for the Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence, which was part of the requirements, he said.
“Of the more than 42,000 drivers, some had to resit the exams and passed.
“PSV licences also include public transport drivers; which consist of 35,8944 lorry drivers and 28,860 taxi drivers.
“E-hailing provides convenience to commuters to move around, including city centre, while providing job opportunities to others including the disabled and women drivers.
“Drivers can choose to either work full-time or part-time as a means to increase their income,” he said in reply to a question by Fong Kui Lun (PH-Bukit Bintang).
Loke said the ministry was considering extending assistance to drivers who had failed to qualify for a PSV licence for more than three times.
“Some of the drivers may not be able to read well (for the exam), so we are considering allowing oral exams for them instead,” he said.
It was reported that the government would allow ride-hailing companies such as Indonesia’s Gojek to start their service for the pilot project in January next year.