The bill also seeks to introduce a new definition of “e-hailing vehicle” as a motor vehicle with a seating capacity of four persons and not more than 11 people, including the driver, for single or separate fares.
The fare and arrangement, booking or transaction can be facilitated through a mobile phone.
Under the bill, the government also seeks to introduce an intermediation business licence to regulate e-hailing services – such as Uber and Grabcar – as public vehicles.
The licence is for the business of facilitating arrangements, bookings or transactions of an e-hailing vehicle.
Under Section 26A (1), it will be compulsory for a company operating e-hailing services to have an intermediation licence and comply with the conditions set by the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB).
These include the type of service provided, as well as measures to safeguard the safety and security of passengers and the standard of performance with which e-hailing companies must comply.
It seeks to propose that Section 26A on the licensing of intermediation businesses include the application, conditions that may be attached to the licence issued by the board, and the offence of operating the business without a licence.
An individual providing e-hailing services who operates without an intermediation business licence can be fined up to RM500,000, jailed for not more than three years, or both upon conviction.
Those who fail to comply with the conditions set by CVLB could face a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM200,000, a maximum two-year jail term, or both.
Meanwhile, under amendments to the Land Public Transport Act 2010, Section 200 seeks to include offences against a person who assaults, hinders or obstructs those involved in e-hailing services.
Those convicted may be liable to a fine of RM1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding three months, or both.
Under Section 12E, those operating e-hailing services cannot transfer or reassign their licences and will be subject to a fine of not less than RM1,000 and not more than RM10,000, one year’s jail, or both upon conviction.