KUALA LUMPUR – The Transport Ministry said it will hold further discussions with all stakeholders to address the concerns raised by some p-hailing riders.
Its minister Anthony Loke said the ministry will engage in talks with Grab and other related ministries to assess the memorandum received highlighting the grievances of the riders.
“We will study the memorandum and discuss it with the related ministries. We also will ask Grab to explain the matter,” Loke said after his walkabout at the reopening of the light rapid transit rail line between the Masjid Jamek and Bandaraya stations today.
Yesterday, the gathering of approximately 50 p-hailing riders, titled the “Gathering of 10,000 Grab Food Riders,” aimed to present a memorandum expressing dissatisfaction with Grab’s new fee structure.
Despite falling short of the targeted 10,000 participants, the riders, represented by Mohd Ali Nafiah, submitted the memorandum to the ministry’s deputy secretary-general (management) Nor Fuad Abdul Hamid.
The riders expressed discontent over the alleged neglect of their welfare since the implementation of new rates by Grab in January.
Ali emphasised that the riders were not seeking additional benefits but were demanding a return to the original payment rates.
However, the turnout indicated challenges in achieving a consensus among p-hailing riders, potentially influenced by political factors and differing perspectives within their representative associations.
In a similar protest last month, the presence of Perikatan Nasional’s Machang MP Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal raised suspicions of political motivations, although he denied organising the event and claimed to have joined at the insistence of the riders.
The protest by p-hailing riders at the Transport Ministry proceeded yesterday despite non-governmental organisations representing them holding a meeting with the Human Resources Ministry late last month.
The HR Ministry engaged with NGOs representing p-hailing riders on January 30 to address their concerns over payment structures. The participating NGOs included Persatuan Perpaduan Rakan Penghantar Malaysia (PPRPM) and Persatuan Penghantar P-Hailing Malaysia (Penghantar).
This development follows disruptive blackout campaigns by the associations.
It was reported that the parties attended the inaugural Pro Tem Committee Meeting for Gig Activists (p-hailing). The discussions, responding to the call for the formation of the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission, or Segim, were aimed at fostering a balanced dialogue with NGOs.
However, senior officials from the ministry highlighted the autonomy of platforms such as Grab or Foodpanda to determine fares and the importance of providing a clear “exit strategy” for gig workers through upskilling opportunities.
Despite Grab Malaysia’s efforts to address concerns and improve income levels, the lacklustre turnout at the protest suggests ongoing challenges in achieving unity and consensus among p-hailing riders.
The contradictory statements from the leadership of Penghantar further indicated a lack of cohesion within the association regarding the previous blackout protest on January 16. – February 17, 2024