Malaysian Bike Taxi Dego Ride-hailing Set to Return
Motorcycle taxi service Dego Ride is set to hit the roads again six months after the federal government imposed a ban on its services over safety concerns.
Read Bike Taxi Dego Ride Ban marks need to Regulate Ride-Sharing
In a Facebook post over the weekend, founder Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj expressed gratitude to deputy transport minister Dato’ Seri Aziz Kaprawi and former Road Transport Department director Dato’ Seri Ismail Ahmad for giving Dego the go-ahead to start and operate mini taxis.
“#tb a wonderful day at Ministry of Transport in Malaysia with wonderful gentlemen – from the far left Dato’ Seri Ismail Ahmad (ex-JPJ Director) and to his right Dato’ Seri Aziz Kaprawi (Deputy Minister in the Transport Ministry) and to my right, Dato’ Seri Ismail Ahmad’s Aide. At a time where we seriously discussed about safety, social empowerment and responsibility, society at large a the future of transportation and cities worldwide. Thank you for granting Dego and giving us your blessings to start and operate Mini Taxis to solve the first and last mile solution in Klang Valley and throughout Malaysia. Coming soon to a neighbourhood near you InsyaAllah. Thank you Allah for your countless blessings upon the Rightly Chosen Ones.”
Nabil Feisal Awad Bamadhaj, Founder & CEO at Dego
While details are scarce, Nabil said in the post that the mini taxis aim to solve the first-mile and last-mile connectivity issue in the Klang Valley and throughout Malaysia.
This may signal a revival for Dego, whose motorcycle-hailing service was abruptly stopped in February by order of transport minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai amid concerns over the safety of its passengers. At the time, Dego reportedly had 6,000 riders.
The decision was clarified in a Parliamentary reply by the Transport Ministry. Citing statistics from the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research, it said motorcyclists are 42.5 times more likely to meet fatal accidents compared to bus passengers. The fatality risk is 16 times greater compared to car users.
From that perspective, the ministry said it decided on the ban because using the service would expose users to higher risk of fatal accidents and serious injuries.
