Foodpanda’s affairs not govt business, says Dr Mahathir

Chan Kok Leong Chan Kok Leong Updated 4 years ago · Published on 8 Oct 2019 11:52AM · 7 Comments

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has confirmed that the Foodpanda remuneration issue has not been discuss during cabinet meetings. – The Malaysian Insight pic, October 8, 2019.

FOODPANDA’S issues are not the government’s business, and it was not discussed by cabinet members, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Distancing himself from Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman’s remarks on the current dispute between Foodpanda riders and its management, Dr Mahathir said that was the minister’s personal opinion.

“He did not discuss it in the cabinet meeting. It’s not the government’s position and that is not the government business.

“Perhaps he has his own reasons for the statement,” said Dr Mahathir at the Parliament lobby today.

He was responding to a question on whether the government was intervening in a private business after Syed Saddiq said on Twitter that consumers could bring down “arrogant” businesses just as they could vote out elected representatives.

Although, the minister did not mention the company, he had meetings with Foodpanda riders who claimed the company had been unfair in its new remuneration scheme.

Riders have alleged that the new scheme would halve their earning potential.

The company, however, argued that the new system would lead to higher revenue for riders based on their daily deliveries.

Last week, Syed Saddiq hosted Foodpanda and Grabfood riders at his home in Petaling Jaya after the first group began protesting nationwide against the new pay structure.

He said after the meeting that cabinet would be looking into the matter and had urged Foodpanda to retain its previous pay scheme to safeguard rider welfare. – October 8, 2019.

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Comments

  • That should put that minister in his place

    Posted 4 years ago by Adrian Tan · Reply

  • The ride app technology is very simple nowadays. All you need is google maps, a server and a management team to run it. Syed Saddiq should look into setting up a ride app for the youths which can start from scratch to be fair and equitable. It wont take a few millions and this really benefit Malaysian youths as it would take care of fare salary, safe riding, no rushing around. As it is not really profit orientated it should be able competitive service to the foreign arrogant companies like Food Panda and Grab.

    Posted 4 years ago by Danial Lafayet · Reply

  • Old people like Mahathir thinks technology is difficult and only foreigners knows how to do it. But ride app is very very simple nowadays. Be like China, they dont use us facebook, google. They built their own weibo, baidu.

    Posted 4 years ago by Danial Lafayet · Reply

  • He thinks he is the champion of youths without taking into consideration how this will impact business and investors confidence. Khairy was much better as a youth and sports minister. This new young Minister is too full of himself.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • This is the right answer. Business issue is not government issue

    Posted 4 years ago by Sin Fook Choo · Reply

  • The issue here is should delivery crew be paid when they are in standby.

    Posted 4 years ago by H. Mokhtar · Reply