ON Nov 27, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said that the Transport Ministry (MOT) would engage with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) if companies were to apply to operate motorcycle e-hailing services.
However, it would be a foregone conclusion if MOT, JPJ and APAD were to use the same old approach in determining whether bike-hailing services should be allowed in our country, as the decision would certainly be no, rendering the whole exercise a waste of time and opportunity.
Over the years, I have written many op-eds on this topic, starting with “Road Transport Department should get its priorities right” published on Mar 5, 2017. This came after three Dego Ride motorcyclists were summoned for providing unauthorised motorcycle taxi service.
Those charged under Section 23 (2) of the Road Transport Act and found guilty by the court may be fined up to RM10,000 or two years’ imprisonment or both.
JPJ warned Dego Ride operators, numbering over 6,000, that their motorcycles could also be impounded should they continue.
Earlier in November 2016, homegrown Dego Ride introduced an e-hailing app for motorcycles at RM2.50 for the first 3km and 60 sen for each subsequent kilometre.
On Feb 13, 2017, Dego Ride notified its 6,000 motorcyclists that it has stopped operating following a directive from MOT.
In August 2019, the cabinet gave the green light for motorcycle e-hailing services to be implemented in the country following a meeting between the then youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman and Go-Jek founder Nadiem Makarim with then Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
In January 2020, a six-month pilot project for bike-hailing was kicked off. In November 2021, Syed Saddiq urged the then deputy transport minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong to present the six-month data on accidents involving the e-hailing sector instead of making general assumptions.
This came after Henry said the government was against introducing motorcycle e-hailing services due to the number of road fatalities involving motorcyclists, and the decision was based on the 2019 statistics that 64% or 3,900 deaths in road accidents involved motorcycles.
As far back as February 2017, I proposed fitting video cameras in front of crash helmets and at the rear of e-hailing bikes to record transgressions of other vehicles, including motorcycles. The recordings can then be forwarded to JPJ if it is keen to act in making our roads much safer.
E-hailing riders can be paid for the many traffic offences captured in their cameras that warrant summonses to be issued. In this way, many motorists and motorcyclists would be at their best behaviour upon spotting an e-hailing rider in front or behind.
Likewise, e-hailing riders will be forced to ride safely and not zip around like food delivery riders.
Motorcycles licensed to provide bike-hailing trips should be fitted with the word “TEKSI” in black on a white round plate and be fitted on both the front and rear ends to be easily spotted.
As e-hailing riders could face suspension if customers riding pillion were to complain that they were reckless, they are bound to behave.
Such monitoring has proven to be effective with e-hailing drivers, unlike unmonitored taxi drivers who could be reckless or try to overcharge.
With more conspicuous e-hailing riders moving around, there would be fewer incidents of snatch thefts, thus making our streets safer for all. Just as a coin has two sides, we can choose to look at the positive or negative.
If we wish to ban motorcycle taxi services, we can easily find many reasons and statistics to justify it. Compassion is also needed to make good use of available technology. Treating all motorcyclists with scorn will just be continuing with the status quo.
But if we wish to allow it, we can set the rules and regulations to make it as safe as anyone riding on a pillion today, if not safer. Sadly, the authorities have always preferred the easier path banning anything difficult to manage, as allowing it requires much hard work.
The decision will indicate whether our country will be making progress or remain stagnant. With motorcycle taxis providing first and last-mile connectivity for commuters, countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam have seen a steep rise in productivity and economic activities.
Allowing motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia using measures that I had proposed more than seven years ago would also make our streets safer and road accidents fewer for all motor vehicles including motorcycles. It may be now or never. – Nov 29, 2024
YS Chan is master trainer for Mesra Malaysia and Travel and Tours Enhancement Course and an Asean Tourism Master Trainer. He is also a tourism and transport business consultant.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: seasia.co
