Transport Ministry open to idea of motorcycle e-hailing

KUALA LUMPUR: The Transport Ministry is open to the prospect of motorcycle e-hailing services and will listen to proposals from interested parties, says Anthony Loke.

The Transport Minister said that if there are applications from interested companies, the ministry will further the proposal with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and Land Public Transport Agency (Apad).

“We have done a pilot project before but it was not very well-received.

“But if there are operators who want to do a sandbox, we are open to having a proof-of-concept (POC trial),” he said when winding up Budget 2025 debates for his ministry at the committee level in Parliament here on Wednesday (Nov 27).

Loke said Malaysians may not be too open to e-hailing motorcycles but this could be due to wrong impressions formed on this mode of transport.

“If this POC is successful… we hope that this can improve the first- and last-mile connectivity,” he said.

On a separate matter, Loke said that there might be good news about diesel subsidies for ferries soon.

“I have engaged the Finance Ministry (on the matter)… but I need to have it in black-and-white from them to provide subsidies for ferry operators,” he said.

The issue was raised specifically by several MPs for Penang ferry operators operating at a loss but Loke said that any such subsidies would be applicable for all ferry operators.

“The subsidies are not just for ferries in Penang but also in Langkawi, Tioman and Sabah,” he said.

He added that this is to ensure that ferry operators can sustain their businesses and that fares charged will not burden customers.