18 as minimum age for p-hailing riders among proposed amendments for transport acts: Wee

PUTRAJAYA – The government will propose to amend the minimum age to 18, from the previous 21 for p-hailing riders. This will enable them to obtain a vocational licence on top of their motorcycle licence, said Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong.

As for p-hailing drivers, they will have to obtain a Goods Driving Licence (GDL) as this allows the ministry to better regulate their behaviour when they are working.

These are among the proposed amendments to three transport acts – Road Transport Act 1987, Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987, and the Land Public Transport Act 2010 – which were highlighted when Wee met with industry stakeholders here today.

“We will later determine how enforcement will take place based on the most practical approach. If the amendments are approved, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) will draw up the guidelines.

“The amendments will give enforcement authority to the Land Public Transport Agency and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board in Sabah and Sarawak, which will make the p-hailing sector more competitive and better work welfare in the long term.

“The amendments to the three legislations will be tabled in Parliament in the next sitting.”

He also weighed in the conflicts between the riders/drivers and the service platforms, saying that the gig economy requires transparency between operators and riders.

“This is because there are some things that the riders may not understand, especially the wage calculation. When a policy is drafted, it will help mediate disputes in the future.”

Wee added that the cabinet met on August 5 and agreed to amend the legislation to make provisions to regulate vehicles and traffic related to p-hailing riders.

He said this after a dialogue session with p-hailing drivers via Persatuan Penghantar P-Hailing Malaysia (Penghantar) and the Malaysia Food Delivery Association, as well as the delivery service representatives at the ministry here.

Wee had said he would meet representatives of p- and e-hailing riders and drivers over their grouses after the Food Delivery Blackout last Friday.

The mass campaign to abstain from work for a day led to traffic on the streets of the Klang Valley, where the protest was focused, being visibly devoid of the usual darting-about of food delivery vehicles. – The Vibes, August 8, 2022