Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Uber ꦇMalaysia aims to add 100,000 more drivers this year to meet the economic challenges that Malaysians are facing.

The move will help many increase their incomes, General Manager of Uber Malaysia Leon Foong said. The plan is likely to further rankle traditional taxi drivers who are already upset with competition from Uber, a popular app for personal mobility on-demand. A group of more than 100 taxi drivers took legal action against the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) on December 30 for alleged negligence in a ban against Uber, Grabcar and Blacklane, whose services have affected their livelihoods. Uber will not be held off because of this, Foong stressed. There are seven million people living in the Klang Valley and about 60,000 people here have been activated as Uber driver partners so far, he added. “We’re just getting started,” the manager said, noting that Uber intends to launch new products this year to “maximise time and seat efficiency”. A SPAD survey showed that the public was in favour of ride-sharing options due to the poor taxi services curently available. Over the past year, Uber has faced fierce opposition from Malaysian taxi drivers who believe their incomes have been affected as Uber and GrabCar usually offer lower rates. According to Kamarudin Mohd Husain, a member of the Klang Valley Taxi Drivers Action Committee (TDAC), the committee is considering a strike or even blocking Kuala Lumpur’s streets if Uber and GrabCar are made legal.-VNA