By LYDIA NATHAN / Pic By ISMAIL CHE RUS

Grab Malaysia will continue to adhere to e-hailing regulations and work with governments, despite probes over possible monopoly and dominance by the region’s largest app-based company.

“So far, we have been compliant not just in Malaysia, but across South- East Asia. We have been working closely with the competition commission,” said its country head Sean Goh to The Malaysian Reserve last Friday.

Grab has been under scrutiny after it announced a deal with Uber Technologies Inc, which saw the US-based ride-hailing company exiting the region for a stake in the region’s leading e-hailing operator.

Goh said the deal is still being reviewed in Singapore. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS) is examining the deal for infringements under the Competition Act.

The CCCS was reported as saying there were reasonable grounds to suspect the deal could have breached Section 54 of Singapore’s Competition Act.
Goh said the commission is only performing its duties and ensuring Grab’s services are of the best interest of the public.

Meanwhile, Goh said Uber drivers’ transfer to Grab is almost at the end. But he declined to reveal how many former drivers from the US-based tech firm have opted to join Grab.

He said the company does not segregate the drivers.

“Whether they are new or current drivers, it is about getting new people on board. The demand is growing. So, we are trying to keep up with the supply.

“The service is running smoothly. Things are going well. Productivity and availability have improved.

“We had expected the combined (entities) would contribute to greater efficiencies. That is starting to show,” Goh said.

Meanwhile, Grab had introduced two new services — GrabFood and the GrabPay mobile wallet.

Goh said GrabFood which has undergone a pilot programme in four areas — Sri Hartamas, Mont Kiara, Bangsar and Bukit Damansara — will be beneficial for two-wheel rider partners.

“It is a source of income for them and an opportunity to leverage on the digital economy,” he said.

GrabFood currently has about 100 merchants and restaurants. Goh expects the number to reach a few thousands in the next couple of months.

“The first batch of merchants are from the Uber Eats platform. We are also opening up to other merchants like smaller food stalls, and small and medium enterprises,” Goh said.

GrabFood will be launched at the end of this month.