Gojek, others to start limited operations in Malaysia next year

Malaysia is set to allow ride-hailing firms, including Indonesia’s Gojek, to start operations in the country on a limited scale starting January 2020, Reuters reported.

According to Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, Gojek will start operating in Malaysia based on a proof-of-concept for over six months to gauge demand for its services.

Photo credit: Gojek

The ride-hailing unicorn earlier revealed its plans to expand to Malaysia in 2o2o. Gojek co-CEO Andre Soelistyo also said that the company is looking to shift the ratio of its domestic versus international customers from 80:20 to 50:50 in the next five years.

Earlier this year, the Malaysian government agreed to give motorcycle ride-hailing services principal approval in the country.

Malaysian Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Redzuan Yusof said that the country’s Youth and Sports Ministry and Transport Ministry have been tapped to work on new and amended laws needed for the service to be implemented.

In addition to Malaysia, Gojek said it’s also looking to enter the Philippines in 2020.

It filed an application with the Philippine Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, but it was denied in January. Gojek again tried to acquire an operating license in the country in March, but was rejected once more by the regulator, which reiterated that ride-hailing companies in the country must be at least 60% Filipino-owned.

Currently, Gojek has ride-hailing operations in its home country of Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore.