Now what, food delivery riders ask after plan for service providers meeting with PM

A number of delivery riders have enquired after the outcome of a planned meeting between the government and the providers of goods or food delivery services to discuss issues including complaints of insufficient payment rates. 

The food delivery riders who attended a recent event featuring Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in Shah Alam said these matters were of immediate concern. 

"It's been more than a week. I would like to know if the prime minister has met with them or not," one of them, Najmi, said to MalaysiaNow. 

Anwar had said during the "Temu Anwar Selangor X Belia" session with food delivery riders on July 22 that he would arrange a meeting with service providers at the Prime Minister's Office within a week. 

Najmi said it would be all right if the prime minister had yet to hold the meeting, or been forced to postpone it. 

"But just let us know, don't leave us asking and waiting," he added. 

"This is important to us as it involves our livelihoods."  

Another food delivery rider, Taqif from Shah Alam, said it did not matter when Anwar and the service providers would meet. 

"It is more important to find an immediate solution to the issues that arise," he said. 

"If they hold the meeting right away but say that they need to discuss things and form committees for further study and so on, they might as well not. That would be a waste of time. 

"Meet next month, that's fine – but settle things, don't study them." 

MalaysiaNow understands that food delivery riders, also known as p-hailing riders, are currently paid RM4 to RM6 per delivery – a concern for many amid declining numbers of orders. 

Their hope is that their payments can be increased to at least RM7 per order. 

Taqif said an increase in payment rate would be appropriate given the risks involved in each delivery, including road safety, weather concerns and motorcycle maintenance costs which can reach hundreds of ringgit every few months. 

There are approximately 11,000 registered riders in the Klang Valley alone, including those working on a part-time basis. 

MalaysiaNow is still attempting to reach P-Hailing Association of Malaysia president Zulhelmi Mansor for comment. 

Zulhelmi had previously listed five main demands on the behalf of p-hailing riders, including mandatory contributions to the Social Protection Scheme, a floor price for pick-ups and deliveries, and the expansion of welfare and social protection.