E-HAILING service providers Grab and Uber are giving Penangites RM5 off for 25 rides this month as the state recovers from last weekend’s storm and flash floods.

From today until November 23, Grab is offering the promotion with the promo code “GRAB4PG” for all services in the state both on cash or GrabPay.

Grab’s non-Klang Valley head Justin Tiew said there would be no surge in the fare.

“Many drivers and their vehicles were affected by the floods. This will impact the supply of cars and fares.

“So we will not be implementing any surge or dynamic pricing until further notice,” he told a press conference at the state legislative assembly lobby today.

Tiew said the company was also taking no commission from its drivers in Penang until further notice.

“We are not taking commission from rides generated from Penang. So the fares go back to Grab drivers to support their welfare during this time,” he said.

Tiew said Grab was also getting its own management, staff and drivers near Penang to drive in the state from November 13 to 17 to address the demands for rides.

“We hope by doing this, we can help alleviate and improve the transport network that is currently affected,” he added.

As for Uber, the promotion period is from today until November 26 for rides from 7am to 7pm using the code “uberforpenang”.

“This is a special code by Uber in aid of flash flood victims,”Uber marketing executive Natasha Ang said.

The flash floods affected the entire state, sending over 12,500 people into evacuation centres. More than 3,100 people are still in the centres while the rest have gone home to deal with the aftermath of the disaster. – November 9, 2017.