SHAH ALAM, Aug 14 — The Grab Drivers Malaysia Association (GDMA) has welcomed the proposal to implement a standard minimum delivery fee despite public opposition.
Its president Mohd Azril Ahmat said the increase in charges carries both positive and negative impacts for the delivery and e-hailing industry.
“The request for a charge increase came directly from riders themselves, as the current low rates have led some delivery workers to switch to permanent jobs.
“If charges are raised, it will help riders remain in the industry as they can earn a better income. But at the same time, delivery demand may drop as people may choose to go out and buy items themselves,” he told Media Selangor.
Earlier, the Malaysian Micro Business Association (Mamba) said the proposal for such charges risked reducing online shopping activity, which could negatively affect the digital economy and small entrepreneurs.
It stated that based on a survey involving 720 online users, 93.5 per cent admitted they might reduce or stop their purchases if delivery costs were raised, while 59 per cent said they would only buy in smaller quantities if a minimum charge was set.
Azril added that the situation could benefit passenger transport services like GrabCar, as customers might opt to travel to shops instead of ordering online.
But he also cautioned that if charges were set too high, delivery bookings could decline, reducing the amount of work available for riders. Instead, maintaining current rates over the long term might be better to ensure riders receive more orders, even if at a lower pay.
Simultaneously, Azril suggested that riders take advantage of opportunities in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to develop skills and earn additional income.
“The government already has TVET initiatives. In just a few months, riders can upgrade their skills and create other income opportunities besides e-hailing,” he said.
