RTD to seize 'Dego Ride' motorcycles

Dego Ride service providers are today warned that their motorcycles will be sealed if they continue to offer the motorcycle taxi service which has been banned by the government.

Road Transport Department (RTD) director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron said currently, the motorcycle owners were only issued summonses, if caught providing the service.

He said the matter had been informed to the operators of the service concerned when they turned up at the RTD headquarters last Jan 21.

"The government has ordered for the Dego Ride service to be stopped due to safety factor.

"We have explained to the operators concerned on the safety aspect and use of motorcycle and if they continue (to offer the service), we will seal their motorcycles," he told a media conference after launching the 2016-2020 RTD Integrity Plan here today.

Prior to this, Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had warned the motorcycle company from challenging the law and to cease operations.

The Dego Ride smart phone application was introduced last November and had become increasingly popular among city dwellers as it offered a cheap and fast alternative to the city's traffic congestion problem.

The service offered is similar to the Indonesian 'ojek' and Thai 'motorsai rap chang', with a fare as low as RM2.50 for a ride of three km and an additional 60sen for each subsequent km. - BERNAMA