Two new requirements imposed on e-hailing drivers by the authorities are burdensome and unnecessary to drivers, says the Malaysia E-hailing Service Drivers Association (Mehda).
The requirements will be effective on Oct 12, less than four days away.
Its president Daryl Chong said the requirements by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) and Road Transport Department (RTD) had caused frustrations to drivers who thronged RTD branches nationwide since yesterday only to be met with clueless officers.
The requirements are the need to change vehicle code to AH (private e-hailing) and keeping a printed copy of the e-hailing vehicle permit (EVP).
"Over the past 24 hours, drivers have been visiting RTD branches throughout the country and were very frustrated as they were unable to perform the change of vehicle status as requested," he told Malaysiakini.
Among the reasons given by the branches, Daryl said, were that RTD has not received EVP details from e-hailing operators, the daily insurance coverage is not acceptable, Puspakom inspections are still required for new vehicles and a consent letter is required from the bank for vehicles still under financing.
"It seems that RTD branches themselves are not aware of the procedure and are giving all sorts of excuses to drivers.
"There are no proper guidelines given to the e-hailing drivers on how to go about changing the status," he said.
Daryl hoped the Transport Ministry will provide leeway to e-hailing drivers as it's impossible for them to comply with the requirement within five days.
"There will be a long queue at RTD branches just to cater to our drivers, thanks to the very short notice."
Many drivers are worried that their vehicle's status change will affect the resale value.
"If the government’s intention is to keep track of the number of e-hailing vehicles, they should be able to do so via the issuance of the EVP."
He also lamented that APAD is slow in issuing the EVPs to drivers, and as a result, many of them will not be allowed to work on Oct 12.
On the requirement to have a printed copy of EVP, Daryl said not all operators provide it to their drivers.
"A lot of them are computer illiterate. Operators won’t find it a hassle to print these EVPs but drivers will need time to collect them.
"Due to this, we hope the ministry will give more time to drivers to comply with this requirement," he said.
Currently, drivers are issued a soft copy of EVP.
Grab, in a statement via its website yesterday, said RTD and APAD had organised a briefing last Friday and had informed operators that e-hailing drivers are required to fulfil those requirements by Oct 12.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke is slated to hold a media conference to address the issues of e-hailing drivers in Putrajaya tomorrow. - Mkini
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