by ANIS HAZIM/pic by TMR

THE Transport Ministry (MoT) will table the amendment for three road transportation bills in the upcoming parliamentary session for debate and approval to protect the welfare and interest of p-hailing riders.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the amendments will involve the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), the Vehicle Trade Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334) and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).

“The Cabinet on Aug 5 agreed that the government through the MoT and agencies under it, namely the Land Public Transport Agency and the Trade Vehicle Licensing Board of Sabah and Sarawak to regulate goods vehicle services provided by a delivery business, especially those using motorcycles (p-hailing services),” Wee said in a statement on Monday.

The amendments will consider implementing regulatory requirements such as the need to have insurance coverage (for riders and drivers), operation control, licensing conditions, vehicle safety control as well as rider and driver competence control.

“To ensure that this service sector is competitive for long periods of time, the regulation also aims to safeguard the welfare of the riders or drivers of the vehicles involved,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the amendment will also consider the age limit of p-hailing riders to not less than 18 years (currently 21 years) to obtain a vocational licence as long as they have a competent driving license in the motorcycle class.

“This determination will open opportunities for more people to join the gig economy sector to generate income through p-hailing services and other delivery service platforms,” he added.

Wee said the amendment also considers the views of various stakeholders in the dialogue session with MoT today (Aug 8), including the Malaysian P-Hailing Delivery Association (Penghantar), p-hailing riders from various companies and vendors and the Malaysia Food Delivery Association.

The dialogue was also participated by several representatives of the Malaysian e-hailing coalition, namely the Malaysian e-hailing Industry Workers Welfare Association; Grab Drivers Malaysia Association; the Perak Motorcycle Transporter Services Welfare Association; Koperasi Jurupandu Teksiku Bhd; Indian e-hailing Drivers Malaysia; Asean Youth Leadership Forum, as well as female e-hailing drivers.