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THE association representing e-hailing drivers has called on the Home Ministry to re-examine how it investigates its members after several cases of drivers being remanded by police for unknowingly driving suspected criminals in their vehicles.
Transformasi Pengangkutan Awam Darat (TPAD) president Nathan Mathivanan said there needs to be a better mechanism to protect e-hailing drivers and riders.
Since the start of the year, Nathan said there were several cases where their members were detained by the police, remanded and had their handphones and vehicles confiscated.
This is because they unknowingly picked up passengers who are suspected criminals or have alleged police records.
"They were detained, remanded; their vehicles seized together with their handphones because they were ferrying suspected criminals."
The reality is that e-hailers do not have access to screen their passengers - they are auto-connected to anyone who places a booking on their application.
However, the police tend to view e-hailers with a sense of distrust and prefer to remand them because the passengers they ferry have a record or were alleged to be involved in criminal activities, said Nathan.
The detention is a huge setback to the drivers, who are forced to lose income, endure emotional stress and the burden to their respective families.
It is also because the remand process can be lengthy before the police decide on their investigations, said Nathan.
TPAD stressed that the safety and security of the e-hailing drivers should not just be borne by them but by the relevant enforcement authorities.
"The ministry needs to find a way to better handle the predicament of the drivers."
He acknowledged that the syndicates may be exploiting the security gaps from e-hailers to transport illicit materials, but the onus is on the police to address this better instead of hauling up both the service providers and alleged criminals.
Nathan suggested that TPAD members install a three-channel dashcam (car cameras) in their vehicles covering the front, back and trunk.
“Members need to be alert to the body language of their passengers. If they are suspicious, there may be a need to reject the proposed trip.
“Drivers must also be allowed to reject passengers who look suspicious and are unruly,” he said.
TPAD also suggested that the Road Transport Department (RTD) allow special vehicle plates for e-hailers for easier surveillance by authorities, rather than pasting the e-hailing car stickers.
Nathan said that there is a need for the authorities form the police to RTD and other enforcers, to liaise closely with the e-hailers to find a formula which protects them from injustices, especially in an era of rising living costs. - April 15, 2026.
