PUTRAJAYA: The e-hailing operator managing the Maxim application has violated Section 12A (5) of the Land Public Transport Act 2010 by allowing vehicles under its charge to operate without valid e-hailing vehicle permits, the Road Transport Department (RTD) said.
In a statement today, RTD said the Kuantan-based company was caught committing the offence in Putrajaya and Pahang during the nationwide Op e-Hailing to weed out e-hailing operators that allow unregistered vehicles and those without e-hailing vehicle permits to operate.
RTD said information from the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) showed that only 402 of the 5,000 vehicles using the Maxim app had e-hailing vehicle permits.
It said the company's documents, equipment, computers, advertising boards, banners and buntings were seized for investigation under Section 222 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010.
It said companies that allow e-hailing vehicles to operate without e-hailing vehicle permits can be prosecuted under Section 12A(9) of Land Public Transport Act 2010, which provides for a fine of between RM1,000 and RM500,000 or up to two years' jail.
"Companies in the e-hailing business and those that provide e-hailing operator systems to e-hailing drivers must be registered and licensed under APAD or the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board."
RTD advised e-hailing passengers to ensure the app they use was registered and licensed by checking APAD's and the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board's portals.
"This is to ensure passengers have insurance protection in the event of an accident when using the service."