23/05/2025

FRIDAY | MAY 23, 2025

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Price wars of e-hailing platforms taking toll on drivers

Woman remanded over acid attack on spa owner BACHOK: A woman suspected of involvement in an acid attack on a spa owner in Beris Kubur Besar on Saturday has been remanded for five days, starting yesterday. The remand order was granted by magistrate Mohd Fauzan Mohd Suhairi following a police application. The case is being investigated under Section 326 of the Penal Code for voluntarily causing grievous hurt with a dangerous substance. The offence carries a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment, whipping or a fine. Earlier, the 38-year-old suspect, dressed in a dark blue outfit, wearing a headscarf and a half-face mask, arrived at the court at 9.17am, escorted by police personnel. In the incident, the suspect splashed an acid-like liquid on a female business owner near a convenience store in Beris Kubur Besar, Tawang, Bachok. The victim sustained severe burns to her shoulder, back, arms and legs. She is currently in stable condition and receiving treatment at the Burn Unit, Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian. Kelantan police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said the suspect’s arrest was carried out by the Special Investigation Division of the Kelantan contingent police headquarters, together with personnel from the Bachok district police headquarters, in an integrated operation in front of a rubber factory in Kuala Krai at 4pm on Wednesday. – Bernama Two senior citizens killed in car crash IPOH: Two senior citizens were killed while five others were injured after a car collided with a four-wheel drive vehicle on Jalan Kampung Kuala Slim, Slim River, about 100km south of here on Wednesday night. Perak Fire and Rescue Department Operations Division Assistant Director Sabarozi Nor Ahmad said the two men, both aged 73, who died were the driver and passenger of a Proton Saga. He said the driver of the other vehicle, a Toyota Hilux, a 30-year old man, along with four foreign passengers, sustained minor injuries. “We were alerted at 8.19pm and deployed eight firefighters and one fire engine to the scene.” He said the bodies were extricated and handed over to the police for further action. – Bernama

the market. “Our goal is to bring meaningful competition, not just undercut prices but improve the experience for both drivers and riders.” Afzan said Bolt’s strategy is built on offering greater value – fairer pay, better flexibility and stronger support for drivers – alongside safety features and affordable fares for passengers. Bolt entered the Malaysian market in the final quarter of 2024 and remains one of the newest players vying for space in a crowded, often unforgiving industry. But as drivers grow weary of exploitative fare models, platforms offering transparency, support and fairer earnings may finally gain traction and change the game.

income – no RM1,700 minimum wage, no labour protections. A restaurant or plantation job might pay more.” As of November last year, more than 30 fintech companies had secured e-hailing licences from the Land Public Transport Agency. But according to drivers, the influx has done more harm than good, triggering a cut-throat price war that eats into already-thin margins. Still, not all new players are following the same playbook. Bolt Malaysia general manager Afzan Lutfi believes competition, when done right, can be a force for good. “Healthy competition pushes the industry forward. There may be many licensed platforms, but only a few are actual contenders in

o Fair competition scarce and worker protection weak due to oversaturation caused by flood of new firms entering market

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

Drivers like Tun Kamalul Zaman, 63, point to market oversaturation as a major issue. “The fares are driven by supply and demand,” said the part-time driver and IT expert. “When too many drivers crowd an area, fares drop. That’s what we’re seeing now.” He warned the situation is unsustainable. “Unless a lot of drivers quit, this will continue. And remember, e-hailing doesn’t guarantee even a basic monthly

PETALING JAYA: A silent price war is reshaping Malaysia’s e-hailing landscape, and gig workers are paying the price. Every time a new fintech-backed e-hailing platform enters the market the major players react predictably – slash fares, squeeze margins and undercut the competition. It’s a familiar pattern that has made survival tough for smaller players, and even tougher for the drivers who keep the wheels turning. This race to the bottom, drivers say, has become a defining feature of Malaysia’s gig economy, where fair competition is scarce and worker protection remains weak. Speaking to theSun , Muhammad Azahari Mazlan, 36, who has eight years of experience on various platforms, said unionising efforts remain fragmented. “I’m a member of the Malaysia e-Hailing Drivers Association, though I’m not very active. “The problem is, many union leaders are too close to company management. They’re not really fighting for us, they just repeat what the platforms want us to hear.” Azahari said the nature of gig work makes collective organising nearly impossible. “There are a few unions, but they work in silos. We set our own hours, so coordinating action is difficult. Even if some drivers strike, others quickly fill the gap. “But things are shifting. Many of us are walking away from major platforms due to consistently low fares.”

E-hailing drivers are finding it difficult to make ends meet due to falling incomes. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Ride platform with system to ensure passenger safety PETALING JAYA: If a car goes off course or stops for too long during a ride, e-hailing firm Bolt Malaysia’s system knows, and acts. A back-end alert is triggered, and the company reaches out driver-partner on our platform complies with the strict regulations set by the authorities. their live location with a trusted contact.” Since its launch late Afzan added that Bolt doesn’t auto-assign rides, giving drivers full control over their work schedule. “Drivers can manually

last year, Afzan said Bolt has kept one of the lowest commission rates in the market, taking just 15% from each fare. What truly sets Bolt apart, however, is its unique approach to driver earnings. “Unlike other platforms that only pay drivers from the pick-up

“All of them hold a PSV licence, undergo medical check-ups and have valid e-hailing vehicle permits which we help apply for on their behalf. “We don’t just meet the standards, we go further. Compliance is the first step. It means every driver is properly licensed, medically fit and has no criminal record.” Afzan highlighted several key features built into the Bolt app to enhance safety. “For example, and this applies to both drivers and passengers, we’ve included an SOS button that can directly connect to emergency services in Malaysia if anything goes wrong during a ride. “We also offer a ride-sharing feature, where passengers can share

accept or reject ride requests, giving them the flexibility to choose when and how they want to work.” On the proposed establishment of the Malaysian Gig Economy Commission, Afzan welcomed the initiative

immediately. It is one of several safety features Bolt has built into its platform to reassure both passengers and drivers. “Passengers want an affordable and safe trip from point A to B. “That’s why we focus not just on meeting regulations, but also on providing a robust safety toolkit that protects both passengers and driver partners,” Bolt Malaysia general manager Afzan Lutfi ( pic ) told theSun . He said safety and regulatory compliance are at the heart of Bolt Malaysia’s operations – from stringent driver screening to app based safeguards, every detail is carefully designed. “At Bolt, we ensure that every

but cautioned against compromising the flexibility that draws many to the sector. While Bolt currently operates only in the Klang Valley, Afzan said there is strong demand from other regions. For now, the firm’s focus is on deepening its presence in the capital before expanding to other areas. – BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE

to drop-off point, Bolt compensates drivers for the entire journey, from the moment they accept a ride to the moment they drop the passenger off. “We introduced this after listening to drivers. We believe they should be fairly paid for their full effort, and this reflects that commitment.”