E-Cab is for Rakyat

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet unanimously approved the proposal to legalise the Uber and Grab e-hailing services in the interest of the public.

In explaining the stance behind the endorsement and approval for the ride-sharing app services, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz told theSun that the Cabinet decision was mainly influenced by the needs of the rakyat.

"We have no problem to regulate Uber and Grab because that's what people want," he said. "We are being objective and we are guided by the interest of the public."

"The consumers are far more important in this aspect than taxi drivers. What people want and like to use are the main factors in our decision for Uber and Grab to be regulated," he added.

He delivered a startling message by stating, "there's no way Uber will be banned (in Malaysia)."

"Grab and Uber are actually national organisations," he said, in reference to Khazanah Nasional Berhad's indirect investment in the tech start-up and Grab's local DNA.

"As a Minister of Tourism, I certainly support this tech initiative for efficient public transport services. They (Uber and Grab) are much very competitive and sometimes they can provide cheaper fares than conventional taxis which is good for public and tourist."

He reminded the cabbies to view the legalisation of Uber and Grab as a wake-up call by getting their act together to improve.

"We are not forgetting them. There are several incentives that we (Cabinet) have already approved this week which is outlined in the Taxi Industry Transformation Programme to be carried out soon by SPAD," said Nazri, adding that the government won't bow down to threats from cabbies that they won't vote for the ruling party.

"They are making big mistakes if the taxi drivers continue to blackmail us," he warned.

Meanwhile, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said that SPAD is currently looking into the details on how to create an equal platform for all to operate competitively.

"One of the ways would be to de-regularise the taxi industry where there will be less restricted regulations to govern the taxi drivers like sending their vehicles for Puspakom inspection twice a year and more regulation to regulate both Uber and Grab," Liow said after launching the "Dare to Dream" short video clip competition, organised by the MCA Publicity Bureau yesterday.
Liow pointed out that all the misunderstanding and problems surrounding Uber, Grab and taxis were mainly caused by the different set of regulations regulating taxis, Uber and Grab.
Grab Malaysia country head Jaygan Fu said the news highlights the government's commitment to support "innovative solutions" to resolve transportation issues in the country.

Fu said Grab is looking forward to working with SPAD and other authorities to understand the proposed amendments to the current regulations.