The Transport Ministry is developing new regulations for p-hailing services to guarantee equitable treatment for delivery riders and companies, according to Transport Minister Anthony Loke's written parliamentary response to Sim Tze Tzin (Bayan Baru) in Dewan Rakyat. Loke asserts that these instructions are in conformity with the Road Transport Act revisions that went into force on October 15, 2023.
Sim questioned the government's plans to regulate p-hailing algorithms and fare structures and inquired about the potential introduction of a minimum per-kilometer fare to safeguard rider earnings.“The Ministry of Transport (MOT) is developing regulatory frameworks to ensure p-hailing services operate while considering the interests of all stakeholders, including service providers and delivery partners,” Loke said in the written statement. P-hailing operators determine wage rates based on current market conditions, independent of any government influence, according to Loke. These market conditions include factors such as traffic congestion, weather, travel distance, time, demand, and service availability.
The Malaysian P-Hailing Riders' Association sent memorandums to the transport ministry and UMNO early last year, demanding government assistance to address the issue of dropping payment rates since they were unhappy with Grab Malaysia's revamping of its delivery fee and bonus scheme.