Anthony Loke: No plans for motorcycle ride-hailing services

KUALA LUMPUR: The government does not intend to legalise or introduce motorcycle ride-hailing services any time soon, Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said.

He said this was to protect the safety of riders and passengers, in view of the high number of motorcycle accidents recorded nationwide over the years.
"Of course the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD), which is the responsible party for such things, would study the implementation of motorcycle ride-hailing, but for me personally, I am not ready to agree with this.
"The accident rate involving motorcycles in the country remains high," he told the Dewan Rakyat, here, today.
Loke was responding to a question by Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) on whether the government plans to legalise the service which is a common sight in neighbouring countries such as Indonesia, with its own service known as Go-Jek.
He also pointed that the government had only recently regulated car ride-hailing services, and that it was a difficult issue to address in order to please all stakeholders.
"It was not easy to regulate the cars, what more if it involves motorcycles. But if there are any other more specific suggestions, we can review and study," he said.
The previous Barisan Nasional government had in February last year halted motorcycle taxi service Dego Ride, that operated illegally without government approval, on safety reasons.
Then Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had also said Dego Ride was unsuitable here as the government has provided comprehensive public transportation services such as MRT, monorail and KTM commuter.
Meanwhile, Loke said the public could expect for the RM100 public transportation monthly pass that was promised by Pakatan Harapan (PH) in its election manifesto to be introduced by early next year.
He said a memorandum on its implementation would be presented to the Cabinet in the near future.
Loke had, in June after PH's election victory, said the government needed more time for the monthly pass implementation, as the coalition had limited knowledge of the financial implications and costs of such a move when it brought up the idea.