KUCHING: Ride-sharing app Uber has confirmed that it will begin operation in Kuching today (Sept 14).
According to Uber Everywhere (Malaysia) general manager Kenny Choong, the group was continuously in talks with regulators in regards to the application of permits as stipulated in the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (LPKP) Act.
This was in response to a statement from Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Nancy Shurkri that Uber must apply for permit as stipulated under Section 51 of the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act.
Choong said in every Malaysian city where Uber had been launched so far – Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu – the group had been ‘engaging with state regulators and wish to reach a long term regulations in the city’.
“In some cases, current regulations do not cover what Uber is about. That is the kind of conversation we need to bring the city forward to protect riders, drivers and of course the businesses,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“We are still in talks with the regulators. I think the eventual outcome of that we cannot confirm – like the sort of registrations we need.” Choong clarified that the group was not a taxi operator.
“Uber is essentially a technology platform that connects supply with demand. Globally, we are known as a transportation network company. We are a technology platform that connects independent operators with riders,” he said.
In Malaysia, Uber currently has tens of thousands of sign-ups to become ‘driver partners’. In Sarawak, Choong said there had been interest in sign-ups although the exact numbers could not be revealed at this stage.
News of Uber’s arrival in the state have been met with much confusion especially with the latest news on the licensing issue, with taxi operators claiming that the state LPKP had assured them that it would not issue a permit to Uber to operate in the state.
Their spokesman, who is also Kuching Division Bumiputera Taxi Association chairman, Sapawi Mohd Suut said LPKP Sarawak gave this assurance during a two-hour dialogue session between LPKP Sarawak and representatives of four taxi associations.
According to Sapawi, the four taxi associations – Kuching Division Bumiputera Taxi Association, Sarawak Taxi Owners Association, Kuching First Division Taxi Association and Bumi Kenyalang Taxi Association represented about 1,000 taxi drivers.
“We were told that LPKP will not issue any licence to them (Uber) to operate in Sarawak even if they were to apply. They are not licensed by LPKP Sarawak to operate,” Sapawi told reporters after their representatives met LPKP Sarawak director Mohd Khairul Hafiz Juni at Bangunan Sultan Iskandar here yesterday.
Sapawi said the taxi drivers were concerned that if Uber were permitted to operate, their ‘rice bowl’ would be affected.
When informed that Uber would be in operation today (Sept 14), Sapawi said there was nothing they could do besides voicing their concerns to LPKP Sarawak, with the hope that the authorities concerned, including Road Transport Department and police would take action against those operating illegally.
Meanwhile, when asked to clarify on the claims by Sapawi, Mohd Khairul said if there was any licence application by Uber, the matter would be brought up for a detailed discussion during LPKP board meeting sometime this month.
However, he did not disclose the date when LPKP Sarawak would be holding its board meeting.
“We have taken note of the concerns raised by the taxi drivers and will also bring the issues raised for a detailed discussion during the board meeting.”
Mohd Khairul said so far, LPKP Sarawak had not received any licence application from Uber yet, adding that the board would not consider Uber’s application in the event that they did not fulfill the conditions.
He said based on the current laws and regulations, every vehicle that provided transportation services must have a permit from LPKP as stipulated under Section 51 of the LPKP Act.