PUTRAJAYA: Over 1,200 e-hailing drivers nationwide are urging the government to immediately enforce a floor price control for service fares.
According to Buletin Utama, Malaysian E-Hailing Drivers Action Movement deputy chairman Zailani Zainuddin claimed that the current minimum fares set by e-hailing operators (EHO) are so low that they oppress drivers.
"We strongly urge Transport Minister (Anthony Loke) to enforce (a floor price control) immediately. The excuse given in Parliament, saying they don't want to interfere (in setting a floor price), doesn't mean they can't interfere.
"The explanation from the EHOs about using dynamic pricing and algorithms can be addressed because humans create these systems," he said outside the Transport Ministry today.
On Nov 14 last year, Loke had said the ministry had no plans to regulate e-hailing fares and will maintain the current policy.
He had said the government has refrained from controlling prices or setting floor rates for drivers' earnings, as the matter requires consideration of the overall balance of drivers' wages.
Earlier, Zailani, along with 50 e-hailing drivers, held a peaceful gathering and submitted a memorandum of demands to the ministry's management services division secretary, Roslan Mohamad.
Seven demands relating to fares and charge rates were outlined, including a minimum e-hailing fare of no less than RM8 after EHO commissions in the Klang Valley, Penang, Johor and Melaka, and RM7 after EHO commissions in Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Pahang, Terengganu, Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Sarawak.
The group also demanded that fares for every kilometre beyond the minimum distance be set at RM1.50 and RM1.25 per km based on state, after EHO commissions.
Zailani said the group was giving Loke until Jan 21 to respond to their demands.