By LYDIA NATHAN / Pic By MUHD AMIN NAHARUL

Grab Malaysia said it is still appealing to the government to minimise the cost for drivers once the new e-hailing regulation is implemented.

Grab Malaysia country head Sean Goh said the government and Transport Ministry have been supportive of the industry and they are willing to work on a win-win solution for both drivers and users.

“They are very aware that any extra cost will burden both drivers and the general public, and they are trying to work something out. We are still imploring the government to reduce the impact, where possible,” he said.

Grab currently holds 72% of market share in the South-East Asian region and often engages with other industries to seek partnerships to minimise cost for drivers.

“We understand that the new rules will impose extra fees on the drivers, so, we are working on ways to help them with incentives and various partnerships,” Goh said.

Grab currently takes 20%-25% commission rate from its drivers.

The new regulations include driver vetting, being legally recognised as a part of the public transportation system, and an imposition of penalties if regulations are broken by drivers.

“It’s good to finally give them recognition and acknowledge their contribution to the public transport sector,” he said to reporters during the launch of Grab Lounge at Sunway Pyramid yesterday.

Apart from added fees for drivers, Goh also said nothing concrete has been announced pending the laws to be gazetted.

Meanwhile, the partnership between Grab and Sunway Pyramid sees the launch of the first Grab Lounge in Malaysia, aimed to ensure riders’ safety and comfort.