Calling all ride-hailing users, Grab Malaysia has just announced that there will lesser drivers on the road once the new e-hailing regulations takes effect on Friday (12th July 2019).
Not will there be fewer Grab drivers on the road (which means longer waiting times), but fares are also expected to increase (possibly up by 50%). Passengers will feel the pinch especially during peak hours.
Why is this happening?
Grab has been working with the Ministry of Transport, JPJ, APAD and PUSPAKOM to ensure their driver-partners obtained their public service vehicle (PSV) licence before the 12th July deadline. Many part-timers have yet to fulfil the regulatory requirements due to their full-time job commitments and tedious application process across various authorities.
The Star reported on Monday that 62% (10,151) drivers have obtained their PSV licence so far. Hopefully once this “transitional occurrence” stage is completed, the amount of drivers will pick up again and the situation will improve.
What can you do?
- Book earlier than usual; especially if you have a flight to catch, or meetings/events to attend.
- Ride during non-peak hours: it’s harder to secure a ride during 7-9am and 5-8pm.
- Opt for public transport (LRT, MRT) if it’s convenient.
- Consider other ride-hailing options here.
For more information, visit Grab’s website.
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