KUALA LUMPUR: The government has agreed to allow intermediary businesses interested in providing bike-hailing services to carry out pilot runs or ‘Proof of Concepts’ (POCs) in Kuala Lumpur for a period of six months beginning January 2020.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said during the period, the businesses could prepare and test the implementation of their bike-hailing service.
“This POC period will also enable the government and business intermediaries to collect data, assess demand levels, assess acceptance levels and other operational requirements in relation to these bike-hailing services,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
Responding to Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s (PH-Setiawangsa) question on motorcycle ride-hailing services, Loke said such pilot projects would be considered in other areas upon request.
One of the requirements that operators must adhere to when implementing the POC is that e-hailing riders must have a full driver’s licence and be at least 18 years old.
“Only one passenger is allowed to be transported at a time, and the passenger must also be at least 18 years old,” he added.
Among other conditions are the use of clear markings to identify the riders and the motorcyles, and for riders to comply with all road rules.
“Currently, the ministry, along with agencies such as the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and the Road Transport Department (JPJ) are detailing the rules and procedures as well as all preparations at the administrative-level related to the implementation of the POC,” the minister said.
He informed that the Cabinet meeting on Nov 1 had agreed that the intermediary businesses which would provide public service vehicle and motorcycle (bike-hailing) services would be regulated through licensing rules or regulations under the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board Act (Act 334) and Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715).
Loke explained that the government’s main purpose in allowing the bike-hailing service was to increase the coverage of public transport services in the country.
“This bike-hailing service will be one of the key components of the government’s effort to provide a comprehensive public transport system as it will be servicing the ‘first and last-mile connectivity’ phase,” he said.
He added that the Ministry of Transport is currently in the process of developing a legal and regulatory framework for bike-hailing services. — Bernama