Entrepreneur development minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof today revealed that the Cabinet has agreed in principle to the implementation of motorcycle-based ride-hailing service Gojek in Malaysia.

The idea for implementing a motorbike ride-hailing service in Malaysia was first brought up following a meeting involving youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim and prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In a report by The Star, the minister said the matter was discussed at length during the recent meeting, and that the project has been given the green light to proceed.

“Cabinet in principle has agreed for this Gojek service to be implemented. The Youth and Sports Ministry and the Transport Ministry have been asked to work together and discuss what laws need to be amended or created to enable this service to be implemented in the country,” said Mohd Redzuan.

The minister added that it could take one or two months for the two ministries to work on a proper manner to allow motorcycle ride-hailing services to be implemented legally, which must then be approved by the Cabinet. “We want to ensure whatever we implement to develop the economy of our youth, it does not contravene the law,” he said.

The idea for implementing a motorbike ride-hailing service in Malaysia was first brought up following a meeting involving youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Gojek founder Nadiem Makarim and prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Motorcycle taxis have existed in Malaysia in the past, with Dego Ride being one such provider. Dego Ride paid riders who provided the service RM5 for the first five kilometres, and 80 sen for every subsequent kilometre after that.

However, the service was deemed illegal at the time due to safety concerns, with the Road Transport Department (JPJ) also issuing a stern warning to those that continued to provide such services, saying it will seize any motorcycles involved.

With this change of heart, and with transport minister Anthony Loke declaring that a single company won’t be allowed to monopolise such services, we could be seeing plenty of other companies joining in on the action in the future. What are your thoughts on the matter? Share them with us in the comments below.

-paultan