PUTRAJAYA: The private hire car issue will be discussed in the Cabinet next month or in September, said Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri.

She said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) had to postpone a scheduled presentation on the matter at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

“SPAD was supposed to table the issue of Uber and Grabcar but they are still not ready.

“So it will be tabled probably in August or September. The Cabinet needs to see if the proposals (on private hire car) are acceptable for all parties,” said Nancy, at a Hari Raya gathering of the Legal Affairs Division here.

Uber and GrabCar are the two companies that spearhead the private hire car service in Malaysia. Their operations have become a matter controversy in the country.

SPAD had previously said it wanted to create a “friendly environment” for taxi and private hire car drivers, and has forwarded a paper to the Economic Planning Unit for review before it was presented to the Cabinet.

The Cabinet will decide if Uber and Grab will be allowed to continue their services and if they need to be regulated.

At present, private hire car services are operating in the country without being subjected to any regulations that are imposed on taxis.

At the gathering, Nancy officially handed over her duties to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said.

Nancy is still in charge of SPAD and the Sabah and Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Boards, and is now looking after the Malaysian Innovation Agency, the Malaysian Nuclear Power Corporation and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (Might).

Earlier in her speech, Nancy thanked officers at the Legal Affairs Division and urged them to continue working hard and giving the best service to the rakyat.-thestar