15/01/2026

THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

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Malaysian Paper

/thesundaily /

‘Clearer SOP for arrests of e-hailing drivers needed’

KLIA upgrades to improve passenger flow SEPANG: Malaysia Airports Holdings Bhd is enhancing operations and infrastructure at KL International Airport (KLIA) to streamline passenger flow and elevate travel experience in preparation for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Managing director Datuk Mohd Izani Ghani said measures to reduce congestion, including refinements to screening and queue management processes, have contributed to smoother passenger movement. “Many of these improvements happen behind the scenes, but when passenger flow is clearer, travellers can feel the difference.” He said the improvements would influence KLIA’s standing in international airport benchmarks, such as Skytrax and the Airports Council International Airport Service Quality awards. On Tuesday, the airport operator unveiled Rimba, a nature-inspired environment for transit and transfer passengers at KLIA Terminal 1, to enhance comfort while reflecting Malaysia’s identity. Located in the satellite building, Rimba was launched on Jan 1. “With between 50 and 60 million passengers passing through KLIA each year, how travellers feel during transit matters. Rimba offers a more comfortable pause between flights while giving passengers a sense of Malaysia’s natural character,” said Mohd Izani. Spanning 970 square metres, Rimba features enriched greenery, locally crafted rattan lighting and garden-style seating. – Bernama Hotel raided over gay claims MALACCA: The state Islamic Religious Department and the Hang Tuah Jaya Municipal Council have conducted a joint enforcement operation at a hotel here following claims that the establishment is “gay-friendly”. Malacca Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman said the operation was launched following a widely spread post by an independent preacher. He said an inspection of 37 rooms at the hotel revealed no breaches under the Syariah Offences Enactment (State of Malacca) 1991. Rahmad said the operation was carried out under sections 56 (sodomy), 57 (attempted sodomy) and 58 (unnatural sex) of the Enactment. “The hotel’s business licence was seized to facilitate further investigation, as the owner was not present at the premises. “The hotel was ordered to close for one day and the owner of the premises was summoned to the council to provide an explanation. Should the explanation be satisfactory, the licence will be returned. Otherwise, further action may be taken.” – Bernama

Choo Kok Wah said the integrated urban governance model using AI technology in improving the efficiency of city services has also captured the attention of delegations from Indonesia and Singapore. He said the ability of JBIOCC to attract the attention of these countries through their visits to the Johor Bahru City Council Tower has previously opened up opportunities for strategic cooperation. Choo said the control centre functions as “eyes and ears” in monitoring security, crime, disasters, traffic congestion, infrastructure management, road damage and environmental cleanliness. “With JBIOCC, investor confidence in Johor Bahru in terms of its smart city planning and security levels would also be enhanced.” JBIOCC will monitor all activities in the city through 500 CCTV cameras with 15 smart AI features. Choo said JBIOCC is capable of detecting about 10,000 incidents every month, including road crashes, crimes, illegal dumping of waste, flash floods, road damage and operation of illegal traders. KUALA LUMPUR: The Land Public Transport Transformation Association has called on the government to introduce clearer standard operating procedures (SOP) for arrests and a dedicated legal aid mechanism for e-hailing drivers. In a press conference yesterday, its president Nathan Mathivanan said e-hailing drivers should not be presumed guilty, adding that current enforcement practices reveal weaknesses and no clear SOP for such drivers. “We urge e-hailing platforms to work with the government to establish a 24-hour legal aid bureau dedicated to e-hailing drivers, as access to legal advice at the point of arrest would help drivers understand their rights and reduce o Legal advice at point of arrest would help motorists understand rights, reduce potential harm: Transport association Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

drivers remain in police custody, and without the association’s intervention, the driver could still be detained today with no way to seek help.” Lawyer Vigines Shankar said a civil lawsuit may be pursued against the parties involved if necessary, as the driver’s treatment was considered excessive. “I hope we can establish clear SOP for handling arrests such as this. For this case, we will request a formal explanation from police on how it was conducted. “If necessary, we are prepared to file a civil lawsuit against the parties involved as we believe this treatment was excessive. We hope these issues could be resolved promptly. “I believe e-hailing drivers are a key part of Malaysia’s economy. As gig workers, their numbers are growing rapidly and they provide essential services.” He said many e-hailing drivers are innocent, whether they are transporting passengers, food or other items, and it is often unclear what is involved in each case. “This is not the first incident. There have been multiple cases, including food delivery riders being detained for carrying drugs. “I hope the agency and ministry can coordinate to establish clear SOP for handling arrests involving drivers.”

utilise existing integrated systems under the agency and the Road Transport Department to distinguish e-hailing vehicles (AH category) from private vehicles (AB category) during investigations. “While we do not question police investigation, the SOP must be properly regulated and updated. Reforming these procedures is the most important step.” On Dec 6, 2025, e-hailing driver Kantharaj Subramaniam, 45, accepted a two-way trip from Rawang to Bukit Beruntung. During the journey, the passenger briefly stopped at a residence and reportedly left an item that could have caused a fire while the driver, unaware of any wrongdoing, completed the trip. On Jan 6, police arrived at the driver’s home without a warrant, questioned his family and took him to the station. His car and phone remain in police custody, limiting his ability to work. Nathan said the passenger’s details were legitimate and the e-hailing company had fully cooperated with authorities, adding that the driver was wrongly treated as a criminal, leaving him psychologically affected. He warned that police records, even without charges, could prevent drivers from working in the future. “Authorities cannot wait while

potential harm.” Nathan also criticised the Land Public Transport Agency for failing to adequately address safety issues affecting e-hailing drivers nationwide. He said an inclusive memorandum containing 21 demands had previously been submitted to the Transport Ministry, including proposals for mandatory passenger identity verification and stricter enforcement. “While drivers are subjected to stringent identity checks, including daily selfie verification, passengers are able to register using anonymous or fake details, exposing drivers to safety risks. “In this case, we were fortunate that the passenger details were legitimate. If not, the driver would have been the victim, with no clear avenue for accountability.” Nathan said some e-hailing companies have introduced more comprehensive verification measures, urging all platforms to immediately adopt electronic Know-Your-Customer systems. He also proposed clearer identification for e-hailing vehicles, such as distinct number plates similar to taxis, saying current sticker-based identification could be easily misused and has damaged the reputation of legitimate drivers. “Enforcement agencies should

Johor Bahru control centre draws global attention JOHOR BAHRU: The establishment of the Johor Bahru Integrated Operations and Control Centre (JBIOCC) has attracted delegations from world economic powers such as China and the United States to see its operation for themselves. JBIOCC Urban Transport assistant director cum Commander Dr

Choo said JBIOCC is capable of detecting about 10,000 incidents every month, including road crashes, crimes, illegal dumping of waste, flash floods, road damage and operation of illegal traders. – BERNAMAPIC

departments in the field. “For example, if someone has a heart attack, anyone at the location can press the panic button to contact JBIOCC staff directly before it is channelled to the relevant parties.” He added that the existence of JBIOCC has boosted the city council’s success in achieving Level Three: Leading Smart City in the Malaysian Smart City ranking last year, making it the first local authority in Malaysia to achieve this level. – Bernama

provide latest information on traffic congestion and flash floods to road users. JBIOCC is also integrated with four panic buttons placed at public locations, namely at Jalan Wong Ah Fook, Tunku Mahkota Ismail Youth Centre Johor Bahru, Dataran Bandaraya and Taman Tasik Merdeka. The panic buttons, which are connected to CCTV cameras at these strategic locations, will speed up the response of authorities or relevant

JBIOCC all incidents by sharing information with the departments and agencies responsible to ensure swift action can be taken within 24 hours. “The CCTV has facial recognition and vehicle registration number recognition features, helping enforcement to be carried out more effectively.” The operation of JBIOCC is supported by 10 LED information display systems on main roads, which will coordinate