KUALA LUMPUR: Plans to introduce motorcycle e-hailing services in Malaysia have been put on hold again due to safety reasons, says Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Henry Sum Agong.

       "Currently, the Transport Ministry has no plans to introduce motorcycle e-hailing services based on several aspects, particularly safety issues and welfare of passengers," he said when answering a question raised by Larry Sng Wei Shien (Ind-Julau) in Dewan Rakyat on Monday (Nov 15).

       He informed the House that the decision to withhold approval for motorcycle e-hailing services was based on fatalities involving motorcyclists.

       "Based on statistics from the police released in 2019, some 64% of fatal accidents or about 3,900 deaths out of 6,167 fatalities involved motorcyclists," he said.

       Sng suggested that safety guidelines be drafted to allow the service to operate.

       "Thailand and Indonesia have allowed companies to operate motorcycle e-hailing services.

       "Your answer is not convincing since if neighbouring countries can do it, why not Malaysia?

       "Although safety issue was cited, the ministry could introduce strict guidelines instead of stopping motorcycle e-hailing altogether," he said.

       Sum reiterated his answer that the decision not to allow the e-hailing services was based on safety reasons.

       However, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Ind-Muar) described Sum's response to the issue as a "lazy and non-transparent" answer.

       He said there was a decision by the previous Pakatan Harapan administration in 2019 to conduct a six-month trial to determine if approval should be given to allow the service.

       He said the decision not to allow the motorcycle e-hailing service was based on general accident fatalities.

       He added that the proposed six-month study would specifically target e-hailing motorcyclists and their passengers to determine the safety aspect of the service.

       Syed Saddiq said the decision not to allow the motorcycle e-hailing services would have an adverse impact on companies which have made preparations to offer such service.

       Sum said that the ministry would continue to study the issue before deciding on the matter again.

       In January 2020, local start-up Dego Ride was to have undergone a six-month trial aimed at regulating the e-hailing service.

       Some 700 riders have signed up with the company.

       However, the plan was put on hold following the change of government in March the same year.