JAKARTA: The rider partners of Indonesia’s motorcycle ride-hailing firm Gojek are unhappy over an allegedly insulting remark made by a Malaysian in Kuala Lumpur.
According to media reports here quoting Gabungan Aksi Roda Dua (Garda) national chief Igun Wicaksono, the riders will submit a protest letter to Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia Zainal Abidin Bakar on the matter.
They have also threatened to demonstrate at the Malaysian embassy on Sept 3 if there is no apology from the individual.
A man, believed to be Big Blue Taxi Services founder Datuk Shamsubahrin Ismail, allegedly made a statement deemed derogatory of Gojek riders and Indonesia in a video clip that went viral in Indonesia recently.
Gojek was founded in 2010 by Nadiem Makarim, 35, who is also the current CEO of the transport network and logistics start-up which offers a wide range of services, from ride-hailing to delivery as well as fintech.
In the first quarter of this year, the Gojek application was downloaded more than 142 million times in Indonesia.
It currently has more than two million rider partners.
Last year, Gojek recorded more than US$9 billion in gross transaction value (GTV) in all operating countries, making it the largest consumer technology group in Southeast Asia, based on GTV.
Gojek operates in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand (where it is known as GET) and Vietnam (as GoViet).
Recently, Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Rahman proposed introducing the motorcycle e-hailing service in Malaysia, triggering public debate on the pros and cons. — Bernama