Transport Minister: E-hailing operators that overcharge passengers will have their licences revoked

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Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong has warned e-hailing companies that their licences will be revoked or suspended if they violate the allowed surcharge amount. Currently, the amount is set at 200 percent of the base fare.

Moreover, Wee also warned e-hailing companies to not continue pressing the government with various demands and requests. If the matter continues, the Ministry of Transport (MOT) will be forced to take action by regulating the e-hailing industry, though he hoped for the matter to be resolved harmoniously as MOT has no intention of disturbing the gig economy.

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As reported by national news agency Bernama, MOT has instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to investigate whether e-hailing operators have violated the surcharge rate which had been agreed on since 2019. The Transport Minister stressed that while e-hailing companies are given the flexibility to impose surcharges based on demands and dynamic pricing, the fare must not be more than 200 percent of the base fare.

Speaking to reporters in Putrajaya yesterday, Wee also criticised e-hailing operators for giving excuses that don’t make any sense for the spike in fares. Among the reasons given by e-hailing companies were the recent RM10,000 EPF special withdrawal scheme and the lack of drivers.

The Transport Minister also labelled e-hailing operators’ allegations that MOT didn’t help the industry as ‘very disappointing’. Wee then reminded the companies on how the government has made it easier for them to recruit employees, though he stressed that abolishing the passenger service vehicle (PSV) licensing requirement is strictly out of the question.

He also urged the public who were charged four times higher than the normal fare to lodge an official report. MOT would not hesitate to take action against e-hailing companies if the reports were proved to be true.

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