Talif (second left) flags off Jomrides drivers during the launch yesterday with Gani (right) and Usop (left).
KUCHING: E-hailing newcomer Jomrides could change the landscape of the ride hailing industry.
According to Assistant Minister of Urban Planning, Land Administration and Environment Datu Len Talif Salleh, Jomrides’ arrival would create greater competition, which in turn could help boost the digital economy.
“These are bold steps that Jomrides has taken by entering the market and providing an alternative source of transport. Even though they are not the first in the country to provide such services, but I was told that Jomrides also has another service in its app known as Ohaa.
“I’ve also been told that there are many more products in the pipeline, which I am highly anticipating,” Talif said in a speech at the launch of Jomrides at the SMA-Tegas Digital Innovation Hub here yesterday.
He also expressed his hope that Jomrides could expand their network in the state, as they were in-line with the government’s move towards digital economy.
“I hope that Jomrides doesn’t just take off here in Kuching, but in the other divisions of Sarawak as well. Expand the network to other divisions in Sarawak, especially since Jomrides is developed by a Sarawakian company (USGA),” Talif added.
Meanwhile, Jomrides chairman Gani Matahir said that the Ohaa platform was an encouraging way to expand into other sectors outside of ride hailing.
“Through Ohaa, the community can provide services such as messenger or courier services and even food delivery. Currently, Ohaa is surprisingly active in Mukah, Miri and Bintulu, and currently in Kuching we have about 500 to 700 registered drivers,” Gani added.
Also present at the launch was Jomrides chief executive officer Usop Jidin.
Jomrides is the first ride hailing service in Malaysia to utilise a profit-sharing concept to generate continuous income, and it currently has some 14,000 registered Jomrides drivers throughout the nation since its introduction in January 2018.