By ALIFAH ZAINUDDIN & DASHVEENJIT KAUR / Pic By TMR

MORE than half of all e-hailing drivers have obtained the public service vehicle (PSV) licence and the number is set to increase rapidly ahead of the July 12, 2019, deadline, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke (picture).

Over the last three months, a total of 62% or 10,151 out of 16,338 candidates have successfully completed the PSV examinations.

“This number is expected to increase rapidly ahead of July 12, in line with the introduction of digital courses beginning June 3, 2019, at the approved training centres,” Loke said.

He was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid (Barisan Nasional-Padang Terap) while refuting a news report in May that less than 50% of applicants passed the PSV licence test in the country.

Taxi and e-hailing applicants are required to attend a six-hour theoretical course that has been made available at any Road Transport Department -accredited driving training centre from Apr 1, 2019, onwards followed by a 60-question theoretical test.

The theoretical test questions for the PSV licence were developed through the Taxi Training and E-Hailing New Training Module Development Committee comprising agencies such as the Ministry of Tourism and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC), Road Safety Department (JKJR), Skills Development Department (JPK), Malaysian Road Safety Research Institute (MIROS) and academicians from public universities in Malaysia.

Loke said Selangor has the highest number of registered applicants at 5,783 with 2,472 passes, followed by Kuala Lumpur with 4,580 applicants and 1,944 passes, and Johor with 4,453 applicants and 1,169 passes.

“I took the theory test myself to see how it is, and I passed even without attending the course,” Loke told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday, adding that it is not as tough as claimed.

He added that the cost to obtain the licence by each e-hailing driver would be under RM800.

The cost comprises a RM20 PSV licence renewal fee, a RM300-RM400 annual insurance charge for a PSV vehicle, as well as RM200 for the course itself — the latter of which will be waived when companies such as Grab opts for its drivers to go for the digital course.

“We are aware that there are many part-time e-hailing drivers, but this needs to be regulated and cannot be divided or opted out,” he added.

On whether it would impact fees on e-hailing customers, Loke said the PSV licence would not impact pricing.

“There are no base fares for e-hailing as the ceiling price depends on market conditions.”