PETALING JAYA: The transport ministry has never authorised e-hailing services in Malaysia to use a bidding system for setting fares.
The minister, Loke Siew Fook, said he has directed the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) to review the system, which is currently being used by some e-hailing drivers.
“I will ask Apad to look into this matter, but as of now, we have never allowed it,” Loke told reporters after launching the road transport department’s (JPJ) 78th anniversary celebration in Melaka today.
He was asked about action taken following reports that some e-hailing apps were using a bidding system.
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A report late last year said Grab Malaysia was testing a fare bidding feature where passengers can propose the ride price for drivers to accept or make a counter-offer.
“We’re currently conducting a small-scale experiment to test the feature in selected towns in Malaysia,” the company was reported to have said when contacted by The Star.
Separately, Loke said a report by a special team investigating allegations contained in the JPJandora Papers relating to the registration of classic vehicle licence plates will be submitted to the JPJ director-general for evaluation and further action.
He said there were some weaknesses identified in the registration process of classic number plates that need to be tightened.
“This is because these numbers were previously registered without a transparent and detailed process as they were registered manually back in the ’50s and ’60s, and not in a computer system or application like MySikap.
“That is why sometimes when these numbers are registered, people think they are not owned by anyone, but later on, the actual owner comes and reclaims the number.
“To ensure that there is no ownership overlap in the future, we will tighten and control the registration process,” he said.
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