MP moots motorcycle e-hailing services to improve public transport connectivity

 

Motorcycle e-hailing services are common in Indonesia and Thailand, but some parties had raised safety concerns over a similar service in Malaysia. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: 

An MP has proposed that the transport ministry allow e-hailing companies to introduce motorcycle-based ride-hailing services as a solution to first-mile and last-mile (FMLM) connectivity issues.

Lee Chean Chung (PH-Petaling Jaya) said this comes after ongoing public complaints about inadequate public transport access despite various initiatives to resolve FMLM challenges.

Citing a report by the International Transport Federation, he said motorcycle e-hailing services had improved consumer welfare and strengthened public transport resilience in cities like Bangkok and Jakarta.

“With Malaysia’s rapidly growing gig economy spanning e-hailing and p-hailing industries, motorcycle e-hailing offers a dual-income opportunity for the people,” he said during the debate on the ministry’s budget for the Supply Bill 2025.

Lee went on to suggest Petaling Jaya as a pilot location if the government decides to test the viability of motorcycle e-hailing services through a sandbox initiative.

“I am ready to support the initiative to establish such services (in my constituency,)” he said.

Motorcycle e-hailing services are prevalent in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and Thailand. Malaysia, too, introduced its first motorcycle e-hailing service, Dego Ride, in 2016.

However, it was halted after three months over safety concerns. The service was later relaunched in January 2020 for a six-month government-approved trial.

Lee acknowledged potential road safety concerns but pointed to measures implemented by companies like Grab and Gojek to mitigate risks.

“Grab has successfully achieved a low motorcycle accident rate in the region, thanks to strong transport regulation under (Singapore’s) Land Transport Authority and Quality of Services standards, which serve as benchmarks for rider safety,” he said.

The measures are then integrated into its Grab Bike app, such as monitoring alerts, safety reports, and driver rest reminders, Lee added.

Later during his winding-up speech, transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he is open to revisiting motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia.

While recalling a previous pilot project that did not gain much traction, he indicated a willingness to consider a new proof of concept (POC) if operators in Petaling Jaya or elsewhere are interested in testing the idea again.

“Without the POC, it would be difficult to carry out such services.” - FMT