Could New Land Transport Act Ruling Outlaw Uber, GrabCar Services?

Services like Uber, GrabCar, Blacklane, and EasyTaxi could soon see action taken against them if amendments to the Land Public Transport Act 2010 are made.

The report published by The Sun Daily said the suggested amendments to the Act is expected to be tabled in Parliament in October and will grant the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) the authority to regulate these public transport service providers.

The proposed move will also allow SPAD to deal with future apps that enable the charging of passengers using unlicensed vehicles.

Speaking to the daily, Nur Ismal, CEO of the SPAD, said there is nothing wrong with any mobile app offering public transport services but the service is considered illegal when the app despatches a driver without a PSV licence and driving a private vehicle with no valid permit.

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the current law does not cover these mobile apps offering public transport services as there is a regulatory gap between the SPAD and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over this ride-hailing concept.

"The proposed amendments will plug the loopholes and address the Uber and GrabCar issues. SPAD is consulting the Attorney-General's Chambers to draft the new law," he said, when speaking to The Sun Daily.

However, Syed Hamid reiterated that this proposal to regulate mobile apps is not a move to legalise these transport services using private vehicles.