KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian P-Hailing Delivery Riders Association (Penghantar) has objected to the proposal that requires p-hailing riders to obtain the Goods Driving Licence (GDL).
In a media statement today, Penghantar said the move would burden p-hailing riders further.
"On behalf of the p-hailing riders, we are against the decision. Although we have yet to be provided with further explanations and clarification regarding the move, we believe that the new policy will further burden p-hailing riders."
The association said it would hold a meeting with the Transport Ministry to object to the proposal.
"Penghantar, together with the Malaysian Youth Movement and Malaysian Trades Union Congress will take drastic steps to address this matter and hope Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob will intervene."
The association said their objection was based on the proposal that included requiring motorcycles used by the p-hailing drivers to undergo Puspakom inspections.
"The motorcycles will also be classified as commercial vehicles, causing additional cost to the riders as it involves commercial vehicle insurance.
"The resale value of the motorcycles will depreciate further and the process to revert to personal vehicle status from commercial vehicle status will be complicated.
"The p-hailing riders also will have to go through bureaucracy in the process of obtaining GDL and Puspakom inspection."
Compounding the problem, it added, was the implementation of the Public Service Vehicle (PSV), a type of vocational driving licence.
"The p-hailing gig economy sector is a free and flexible employment industry, as it does not interfere with other sector industries, unlike the e-hailing gig economy.
"We believe that the government should look at the bigger issues, namely the irregular and manipulated wage rate and delivery fares issue for riders and the issues of discrimination by service provider companies against p-hailing riders.
"The government should feel the pulse of the p-hailing riders, who are also part of Keluarga Malaysia, who are also burdened by the current economic instability."
The role of p-hailing drivers, who are also part of the country's frontliners in helping the government and Malaysians when dealing with Covid-19, should not be forgotten, it added.
Yesterday, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong after holding a dialogue with representatives of e-hailing and p-hailing associations said p-hailing riders would be required to obtain GDL, following amendment for proper supervision of the service in the country.
He said the Cabinet meeting on Friday had agreed to amend the Road Transport Act 1987 (Act 333), Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board Act 1987 (Act 334), and Land Public Transport Act 2010 (Act 715) for the purpose.
For p-hailing riders, proposal would only add further burden to the riders.
A rider who wanted to be known as Firdaus said the matter only compounded the unresolved issues by adding more problems that would burden the riders.
"We want the government to intervene so that issues regarding irregular and manipulated wage rate, as well as delivery fares, can be solved.
"For many of us who rely heavily on our monthly income as p-hailing riders, these issues have impacted our take-home pay significantly.
"With the requirement for GDL, the matter is made even more implausible. Instead of solving current issues, why do we need to add more problems, like requiring riders to undergo vehicle inspection at Puspakom?"
Last Friday, food delivery riders went on strike to protest the low delivery fares.