Don’t meddle in company decisions, think-tank tells Putrajaya

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 3 Oct 2019 11:29AM · 5 Comments

After ministers’ comments on the dispute between Foodpanda and its riders, think-tank Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs says it is unwise for the government to intervene business decisions made by individual companies. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 3, 2019.

THE government has been told it has no business meddling in decisions made by individual companies, reported news portal FMT today.

The report quoted Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) as saying the government should instead focus on developing the country’s business environment.

This follows Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s interference in a dispute between food delivery company Foodpanda and its riders over a new payment scheme.

Syed Saddiq told the food delivery company to revert to its previous scheme of paying riders RM4 per hour with an additional RM3 to RM5 per order, based on their performances.

In the new contested scheme, the company removed the RM4 hourly rate, instead giving riders RM7 per order delivered.

Ideas said while the government can formulate a framework to regulate a gig economy, but it is unwise to make it its business to instruct companies about business decisions.

“It may create concerns within the business community that the government is prepared to intervene in decisions of individual companies when things get political,” Ideas research director Laurence Todd was quoted as saying.

Syed Saddiq, to justify his meddling, had said the welfare of workers should not be sacrificed.

Todd said there are questions now raised over the government’s impartiality as well as the stability of the business environment.

However, not everyone agrees with Ideas.

Motorcycle ride-hailing service Dego Ride founder Nabil Feisal Bamadhaj welcomed the government’s intervention.

He said it shows the government is listening to the voices of the deliverymen and cared for their livelihoods. – October 3, 2019.

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Comments

  • Regulate and enforce. Not interfere! What does he know... no working experience at all.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mo Salleh · Reply

  • this will scare investors away. Who would want to set up businesses and factories here if the government can force them to do things that can undermine their business. They would rather go to business friendlier places like Vietnam.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • If the government gets involved in private business decisions we should become a socialist country.
    Politicians should stay out of business. Do what they know best which is politic.

    Posted 4 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • Fully support Ideas comments. The Govt's role is to create a conducive business environment and then let the entrepreneurs conduct their businesses. Foodpanda should ask the Govt to butt off.

    Posted 4 years ago by Super Duper · Reply

  • What does this kid knows about running a business? This are private sector matters they are running a legitimate business. You can't even take care of your own ministry let alone interfering in areas that are alien to you. Bet if you are the CEO the company will go bust before the first delivery is concluded.

    Posted 4 years ago by Justin Leno · Reply