MOT to summon e-hailing company over sharp fare increase

KUALA LUMPUR - The management of the e-hailing company involved in the fare increase will be summoned by the Transport Ministry (MOT) to explain the price surge.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong said so far there was no validity on the matter, however his ministry would call the e-hailing operator to respond to consumer complaints.

“The e-hailing company has to answer and to justify why the price increase, we (the Transport Ministry) will look into whether their answer makes sense or not.

“If we say (the fare) is RM20, it suddenly goes up to RM70 in the current situation, it is seen as burdening to the people,” he said in a press conference after visiting the Ampang Park Light Rail Transit (LRT) Station on Sunday.

He said this is important to ensure that no party will be able to take advantage of this matter for its own benefit.

“As policymakers, we don’t want to see any party taking advantage to make a profit.

“The company involved need to justify their reasons for doing so. I see this from a consumer’s perspective where it can be considered a sharp increase because it has not happened before,” he said.

In the meantime, Wee had instructed the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to re-examine the issue and seek clarification from the company.

“I expect in a day or two, the company should explain to the people and then we will see what policy we need to do, such as encouraging more competition so that prices will go down,” he said.