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Did my usual Sunday morning walkabout at my hdb estate and decided to start this thread to share rare phv rides which you might hitch if you are in luck.

Food delivery firms take up third-party liability insurance Pedestrians now better placed to claim for damages should they get into accident involving riders Pedestrians are now better placed to claim for damages should they get into an accident involving riders from food delivery services in Singapore. Deliveroo and Grab have already taken up third-party liability insurance for their riders, while a third company, Foodpanda, is looking into purchasing the insurance. Early this week, Active Mobility Advisory Panel chairman Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said his panel is considering recommending that such insurance be made mandatory for food delivery firms. In a Facebook post on Monday, Dr Faishal said: "We are considering third-party liability insurance, to give more peace of mind to pedestrians and riders if an accident occurs." He said more details on the potential recommendation would be announced later. Dr Faishal had said last month that his panel was concerned about reports of reckless food delivery riders who rush to make deliveries, and that it was actively looking into stronger measures to ensure that the riders are covered by third-party liability insurance. Mr Steven Lim, a member of the panel and president of the Safe Cycling Task Force, said on Wednesday that while no final decision has been made on the recommendations, food delivery companies are already encouraged to take up such insurance. He said: "The food delivery riders are the ones who actually spend a lot of time on the streets, they clock higher mileage, so the chances of them getting into an accident are actually higher than other users." Both Grab and Deliveroo told The Straits Times that they had already purchased third-party liability insurance for their riders. Deliveroo said all 6,000 of its riders have been covered by insurance for free since May last year. "Accident insurance is applicable to riders on all vehicle types and their substitutes, while all cyclists and e-scooter riders also have access to third-party liability insurance," it said. Riders are covered by insurance at a value of up to US$1.5 million (S$2.03 million) in the event that they cause injury to another person while making a delivery. The insurance would also protect the rider in cases of property damage and cover any legal costs incurred. Grab, which runs GrabFood, said its riders have been covered by third-party insurance since June 14. It said the coverage aims to provide peace of mind to both pedestrians and delivery riders. It did not disclose the total number of riders insured or the monetary value of the coverage. Foodpanda's public relations team did not respond to ST's requests for comment, but ST understands that the company is also looking into buying third-party liability insurance for its riders. Ms Lee Bee Wah, MP for Nee Soon GRC, previously suggested that third-party liability insurance be made mandatory for personal mobility device users. She told ST that the developments are a good step forward. "Having mandatory insurance for (riders) could help many pedestrians feel they have at least some recourse," she said. "More importantly, food delivery companies should hold their riders accountable for any accidents, using their tracking technology if needed." https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/food-delivery-firms-take-up-third-party-liability-insurance covers pedestrians only, no mention of cars ....

apparently some chee-hong passengers making women drivers uncomfortable. Grab tests new feature pairing women drivers with women passengers SINGAPORE: Grab is testing a new feature that allows its women drivers to indicate if they would prefer to pick up women passengers. The feature aims to increase safety for its women drivers, and is among other initiatives announced at the launch of its Women Programme, which seeks to lower barriers to entry for women looking to work on its platform. "Exclusive to women driver-partners only, Grab is now testing a new 'Women Passengers Preferred BETA' feature," said the ride-hailing platform on Wednesday (Mar 6) in a news release. "The feature enables women partners to indicate their preference for women passengers. When the feature is toggled on, it increases the chances of matching a woman driver-partner with a woman passenger, if there is a woman passenger in the vicinity." This offers an additional layer of safety while providing options for women drivers and users who would feel more comfortable driving or taking a ride with a woman, said Grab. Noting that its partner community is male-dominated, it added that more needs to be done to increase women participation on its platform. "Our new Women Programme aims to empower women to take up platform work by addressing their unique concerns around safety and dispelling the notion that driving is not suitable for them."

Source: https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/grab-increase-platform-fee-s070-may-5-2151501 SINGAPORE — Ride-hailing firm Grab will be raising its platform fee to S$0.70 from May 5 for each ride, up from the current S$0.30 fee, the company said on Friday (April 14). The adjustment is in line with platform fees charged by other ride-hailing platforms in Singapore and the change will be reflected on all Grab transport service types, the firm said in an email to its customers. "This will support the development of continuous app improvements such as safety features, increased reliability and driver-related benefits," said Grab. The ride-hailing giant introduced its S$0.30 platform fee in 2020. Rival firm Gojek charges a S$0.70 platform fee on every trip made. Another ride-hailing company, Tada, charges a platform fee of S$0.55 before Goods and Services Tax (GST) for fares below S$18. For fares above S$18, the platform fee is S$0.75 before GST. Grab said on Friday that the ride-hailing industry is facing a shortage of drivers, with significantly more people booking rides than there are enough drivers to serve the increased demand. "This has resulted in longer wait times and caused passenger fares to fluctuate more than anyone would like. Which is why we are introducing new solutions to help improve the situation," it said. To help tackle the shortage, Grab said it has relaunched GrabShare, where two passengers heading in the same direction can share a ride for discounted fares. It is also recruiting more drivers through its new schemes. New "technology-enabled features" also aim to help Grab's drivers "work more productively to serve more passengers". This includes a tool that shows drivers the areas with high passenger demand. CNA

SINGAPORE – MacPherson Member of Parliament (MP) Tin Pei Ling, 39, has been appointed the director of public affairs and policy at Grab. Tin joined the Nasdaq-listed company in January, Grab confirmed in a statement on Wednesday. CNA reported that her appointment became publicly known when she made an appearance in her new capacity on Wednesday at a Chinese New Year lunch that Grab hosted for some 750 private-hire drivers and delivery partners at Singapore Expo. She was there alongside Grab's managing director Yee Wee Tang and Senior Minister of State for Transport Amy Khor. Grab reportedly said, "Pei Ling has deep on-ground understanding of digital economy and Smart Nation policy, and close ties with the local community. She will build partnerships and programmes to harness the positive potential of technology to create impact in Singapore." Prior to this, Tin spent four-and-a-half years as the chief executive officer of Business China, a non-profit organisation seeking to cultivate Singapore-China relationships. According to her LinkedIn profile, Tin remains a board member there. She has also worked at Jing King Tech Holdings, now known as Adera Global, and Ernst and Young. Tin was elected to Parliament as part of the five-member People's Action Party team contesting in Marine Parade Group Representation Constituency (GRC). She then became the MP taking care of the MacPherson ward within the GRC. She was elected MP for MacPherson Single Member Constituency in 2015, a seat she successfully defended in the 2020 general election. Tin is married and has two children. https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/tin-pei-ling-grab-singapore-director-public-affairs-policy-041425096

I have college stay nearby and everyday he want a lift. I buy the car for my and family convenience. Really to much!

TL;DR – A passenger uploaded a screenshot of a lewd conversation between herself and an illegal hitch driver on social media. Want to save a few dollars on your next Private Hire ride? There are always unofficial alternatives that you can find via Telegram groups like the one below. Note: I don’t personally use this at all. A friend decided to add me, and I was too lazy to leave the group. Just this one group has over 197,000+ members! But be warned! If you decide to take this route, you might meet some unsavoury characters who do not operate under any corporate entity. Here’s a perfect example If the image above is too texty, and you get dizzy from too many words, here’s a quick summary of the image post on Singapore Private Hire Car Drivers & Riders Community FB page. A hitch driver texts his passenger to confirm the pick-up details along with his ETA The driver then informs the passenger that he’s barely clothed Reason being that he (the driver) would give a free ride if his passenger allowed him to get fully naked and touch himself while driving Yeah. That was my face when I read the whole conversation. Some due diligence in order Obviously, in this day and age, you’ve got to take what you see online with a pinch of salt. So, I decided to search for this car on OneMotoring. But no such vehicle exists! Still an intriguing story though. But obviously, netizens didn’t bother fact-checking. The comments section exploded. Let’s read some! Online Chatter HE SIMPLY MISTOOK GRAB CAR with GRAB THE BALLS. That’s hilarious! The person who said, “I will sit quietly behind n close my eyes because free of charge” got a serious problem la. ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

https://www.asiaone.com/singapore/too-nosy-driver-permanently-banned-grab-after-asking-passenger-inappropriate-questions?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR26J2SjH7Tx9qgdJKmGYtnpZlTrkAHDo5lk6svF3aEcI4MTQ747jcitSok#Echobox=1659335627 Too nosy? Driver permanently banned from Grab after asking passenger inappropriate questions AUGUST 01, 2022 PUBLISHED AT 2:05 PM By SYARIFAH NADHIRAH Screengrab/TikTok/User14153979978577 We've all encountered chatty private-hire drivers at least once. Some of us are okay with it, others not. One TikTok user recently urged everyone to "speak up and tell them (the driver) if the chat is getting uncomfortable" after their father was permanently banned from Grab due to a conversation he had with a passenger. The driver's child shared about the incident on an anonymous TikTok account last Wednesday (July 27). The video has since racked up 350,100 views and 25,000 likes. Grab Driver Banned Tik Tot Download-1.m4v According to the video, the driver received a call from Grab staff who asked if he recalled a passenger being uncomfortable during a recent ride with him, to which he responded with a no as he "didn't recall any unhappiness expressed by any passenger". Shortly after this, the man was allegedly locked out of his Grab account and received an email from the ride-hailing company. In the email, Grab stated that he was permanently banned for displaying inappropriate behaviours during a ride such as commenting on the passenger's physical appearance and asking overly personal questions that were unrelated to the booking. PHOTO: Screengrab/TikTok/User14153979978577 "He was banned indefinitely from Grab with just an email," the TikTok user wrote, adding that their father could not find voice evidence to prove that he was unaware of the passenger's unhappiness as the dashcam footage had already been refreshed by then. Grab's email also mentioned that the driver could submit an appeal if he believed he was "wrongly banned". He did so immediately but his appeal was allegedly rejected without a reason. PHOTO: Screengrab/TikTok/User14153979978577 "Ultimately, I am just making a living as a driver with no malicious intention, I do not wish to offend any riders. I have always treasured being a partner of Grab and I apologise for any issue caused for the team or this rider. This will not occur again," said the driver in the appeal. The driver's child shared that their father had been working with Grab for nearly a decade and had an average rating of 4.9 over 5 stars. The video ended with the child urging passengers to speak up when they feel that a conversation with a driver is getting uncomfortable: "They would stop. My dad would. Just a simple complaint has caused my dad a lot of sadness, disappointment and cost him his livelihood." Netizens divided on driver's plight Netizens in the comments section expressed their sympathy towards the driver. Some urged Grab to provide an explanation for the ban and do a thorough investigation, while others offered to help him find a new job. On the other hand, there were netizens who disagreed with what the Grab driver's child said in the TikTok video. "Clearly you don't understand how scary it can be for a woman to be in a Grab," one wrote. Inappropriate behaviour not tolerated: Grab In response to AsiaOne's queries, a Grab spokesperson shared: "Grab does not tolerate any kind of inappropriate behaviour that goes against our code of conduct. Driver-partners and passengers found to display errant behaviour after investigation will be suspended or banned from the platform. "Ensuring that all who use our platform feel safe and comfortable is very important to us, and we urge everyone to treat one another with respect." AsiaOne understands that the driver was banned following a thorough investigation. In November 2020, a GrabHitch driver was suspended after sending anti-LGBTQ texts to a passenger who had a profile photo banner in support of the Ready 4 Repeal movement. However, the driver insisted that his messages were not abusive. After he met with Grab personnel, the company agreed to reactivate his account. But it decided not to proceed with the reactivation after the driver made an untrue statement claiming Grab "agreed that political slogans should not appear on any photos".

Regardless of what car you drive, you will naturally be annoyed when others hit, ding or even touch your car. Do you know what's worse? When someone shoves close your car's electrical side mirror while you are in the car: What Happened? The cam car driver heard a "thud" sound coming from his left side while he was chilling inside his car. Lo and behold, the GrabFood driver that parked his car next to the cam car driver had forcefully closed the cam car's electrical side mirror so he could squeeze between both cars. After realising what had happened, the following conversation took place between both parties: Can you imagine how much better the world would be if everyone were considerate and minded their actions? Netizens' Comments Report to Grab got use meh? Come, I help you fold your electric side mirrors manually. See if you shiok or not! OOF! This is funny😂 ========= Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news, and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

It’s hard to pinpoint who is at the greater fault for this incident. A cam driver captures the moment when a Grabfood rider blindly tailgates behind an equally blind BMW 320i driver – and it does not end well for either of them. On Tuesday (15 March) evening, the cam car cruised down a road in Boon Lay Way behind the red BMW 320i. The Grabfood rider rode on the next lane beside both vehicles. Upon reaching the junction, the driver signaled early to other motorists that he was intending to make a right turn. The rider noticed the junction up ahead and signaled right to make his turn. He swiftly merged into the rightmost lane, sandwiching himself between the cam car and the BMW 320i. As the green light switched to amber, the rider slowed his pace to match the red car in front of him. The driver, however, didn’t notice the switch in lights just yet and crossed the white stop line, entering the junction. At this point, the BMW driver realised that the lights were not a bright green and immediately stepped on his brakes (even though he already was in the yellow turning box). The rider assumed that the driver would continue to make his turn and did not anticipate this move, resulting in him rear-ending the red car and falling to the ground. Can I continue driving after crossing the stop line at an amber light? While it is common knowledge that drivers are to slow down and stop at a junction when they notice an amber traffic light, this does not apply to drivers who had already crossed the stop line. According to the Highway Code, motorists are allowed to continue driving if they happen to cross the stop line as the lights turned amber. If stopping might cause a collision, motorists should continue into the junction to protect the safety of other drivers. So the short answer is, yes! Netizens’ reactions Most netizens quickly took to the comments to criticise the driver for unnecessarily stopping after he had already crossed the stop line. ======== Be the first to get the latest road/ COE news, and get first dibs on exclusive promos and giveaways in our Telegram SGCM Community. Join us today!

E-hailing and food delivery super-app Grab is acquiring Malaysia's premium grocery chain Jaya Grocer, according to a filing to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) New Straits Times reported that Grab did not disclose how much it is offering to buy Jaya Grocer. However, sources claimed that the largest ride-hailing company in Southeast Asia is forking out RM1.5 billion to RM1.8 billion to buy the grocery chain, according to The Edge Markets. Based on the filing to SEC, it is understood that Grab had entered into a share purchase agreement (SPA) with the current shareholders of Jaya Grocer to buy all of the ordinary shares and 75% of the preference shares of Jaya Grocer. "Subject to certain terms, the GHL (Grab Holding Limited) subsidiary will have the option to buy, and the current shareholders will have the option to sell to the GHL subsidiary, the remaining 25% of the preference shares of Jaya Grocer after the closing of the transaction," read the filing. "For local regulatory purposes, GHL intends to partner with a local investor which will own 50% of the voting shares in Jaya Grocer." The closing of the deal is expected to occur in the first quarter of 2022 after the customary conditions are met "Following closing, Jaya Grocer is expected to become a subsidiary of GHL and its financial results will be consolidated by GHL," it said. Grab's share price remains at USD7.20 at the time of writing as it is after-market hours in the US. Grab had on 2 December listed on Nasdaq, a dealer stock market in New York, US The former Malaysian start-up became the largest listing in the US by a Southeast Asian company, reported The Star. Grab was founded by Malaysian Harvard graduates Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling. Its first name was called MyTeksi, before changing to Grab on 28 January 2016. Currently, the super-app company is headquartered in Singapore. As for the history of Jaya Grocer, the company's first outlet was opened in 2007. It was founded by Teng Yew Huat, who is also known for founding Giant Hypermarket. According to New Straits Times, the Teng family reportedly bought back Jaya Grocer's entire stake from AIGF Advisors Pte Ltd, a private equity firm headquartered in Singapore. The sale in November gave the Teng family ownership of the entire shareholding of Jaya Grocer, reported The Edge Markets. AIGF said on 24 November that its investment in Jaya Grocer back in 2016 was part of the fund's strategy of identifying and investing in companies with strong potential as it wanted to work alongside them to enhance the value of their businesses and to create leaders in their respective industries. During the investment period, Jaya Grocer expanded from just over 10 stores to more than 40 today. The full ownership gives them the flexibility to implement their strategic plans for their consolidated shareholding.

Grab service disruption this mornign affecting transport, food service... my friend was there to collect art kit and cashcard and noticed lots of uncle queuing up outside grab office. some even became heated poor grab team https://mustsharenews.com/grab-outage/

An ex-Grab driver is on trial for attempting to rape a drunk passenger. This incident occurred in the wee hours of May 19, 2018. Here is some background information on the accused, Tan (as pictured below). Photo by The Straits Times Tan was previously a sales manager for an airline. Since 2016, he has been driving with Grab on weekends. He is a married father of 3 kids. He intended to end his Grab shift by 3 am, as he had a parent-teacher conference for his child the following day. Tan could not drive into the condo upon reaching the location as there was no one at the security guard post. Instead of just dropping her at her location (just like any Grab drivers would), this "gentleman" decided to walk the victim to the condo's side gate. Tan then escorted her back to his car. This was where things took a turn. While in the back seat, Tan searched her bag for her mobile phone so that he could call someone. They ended up kissing, and according to him, the victim initiated it. Tan felt that she was no longer intoxicated at this point (HOW CONVENIENT). He claimed that the victim straddled him and started "grinding" him. He took it as an indication that the victim wanted to have consensual sex with him. Therefore, he tried having sex with her, but he could not perform. However, he claimed that the victim performed a sex act on him. Tan drove elsewhere to continue the act, but his escapade ended when he allegedly became "more aware of his surroundings" and told the victim to stop. Imagine this This fella was trying to have sex with a stranger in the back seat of his car. And moments later, his kid will be sitting in the exact position where the incident happened. If he were the "gentleman" that he suggests he was, none of these would have happened in the first place. What makes matters worse is that after he sent her home again, another Grab driver found her lying in the middle of the road. This suggests that Tan's "gentleman" gesture was merely a blatant excuse. Consequence If convicted of attempted rape or sexual assault by penetration, the offender could be jailed for up to 20 years, fined, or caned. If found guilty of outrage of modesty, the offender could be jailed for up to 2 years, fined, caned, or be given any combination of these punishments. --- Thinking of selling your car? sgCarMart Quotz guarantees the highest selling price for your car. We’ll even give you $100 cash if you find a better offer elsewhere! Get a free quote to find out how much your car is worth today!

Grab & Gojek could merge soon source: https://mothership.sg/2020/12/grab-gojek-merger/ Events ARTiculate @ North East 20 November 2020 - 20 December 2020 Bloomberg reported on Dec. 2 that ride-hailing platforms Grab and Gojek have made "substantial progress" in working out a merger deal, which is looking to be the "biggest internet merger in Southeast Asia". The information was provided by people with knowledge of the merger discussion. It is apparently being discussed by senior leaders from Gojek and Grab, as well as SoftBank Group Corp., an investor in Grab. While the talks might not result in anything concrete, it is said that if and when the merger proceeds, Grab co-founder Anthony Tan will become the new company's chief executive officer. The merged entity will also run under the Gojek brand in Indonesia. Bloomberg's sources said Grab and Gojek are ultimately hoping to merge with the aim of becoming a publicly-listed company. When Mothership contacted Grab for comment on the matter, a spokesperson said: Anti-competition concerns This merger will draw scrutiny from regulators who will have concerns about anti-competition, considering that both parties hold large market shares in many of the countries they operate in. When Grab and Uber merged in 2018, they were fined a combined S$13 million by the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS). The CCCS said that the Uber-Grab merger reduced competition and increased prices for consumers. More recently in July this year, Indonesia's anti-monopoly watchdog, the Business Competition Supervisory Commission (KPPU), fined Grab Indonesia and its car rental partner, PT Teknologi Pengangkutan Indonesia (TPI), a combined IDR 49 billion (S$4.7 million) for carrying out discriminatory practices against drivers. The KPPU said that Grab Indonesia gave preferential treatment -- including the allotment of priority orders -- to drivers using cars from TPI. Grab Indonesia denied it.

According to Stomp, this guy booked a GrabHitch ride in Choa Chu Kang on Friday afternoon. He scheduled the ride for 3.15pm, but the driver sent a message to ask if it will be ok for him to arrive at 3.25pm. The passenger then asked if the driver could reach by 3.15pm instead but received a snide reply: "I drive car not aeroplane" The driver eventually cancelled the ride. It seems like the passenger is a little demanding. There are many variables that affect travel time on the road - there could have been traffic, the driver might also have been some distance away and hence required more time to reach. In such a situation, the best solution is to just wait - if you cancel this ride and book another, chances are he won't reach by 3.15 also mah. Understandably, GrabHitch is a carpooling service, where drivers who are going the same way, offers to pick up passengers for a small sum. As such, it is kind of an unwritten rule that one shouldn't expect to receive five-star chauffeur service. I think the most important takeaway from this incident is that communication is key. The driver could have replied nicely, and the passenger should have been more understanding and the whole thing wouldn't have been an issue. And hor, I also don't have an aeroplane, but I still can reach work (quite) on time leh.

Dear all May I know it is worth to drive Grab or normal cab? Heard Gov let PHV drivers claimed Petrol Parking and Maintenance etc Any advice from current driver ? Thank you very much

Grab will start implementing a S$1 processing fee for all GrabPay Wallet top-ups made using Visa credit cards, starting June 1, 2021. According to Grab, the extra fee is meant to "cover the costs levied by the service provider." This fee will be waived for top-ups of S$400 and above. Can still top up for free using Visa debit cards To cushion the blow of the announcement, Grab has shared three ways to top up your GrabPay wallet without paying a fee. Users can do so with Mastercard or American Express cards, as well as Visa debit cards. You can also transfer GrabPay credit from other users, or top up via your bank account. There will also be no additional charges if you use your Visa card as payment for Grab rides, or for GrabFood orders directly. See Grab's Facebook post here: Source: https://mothership.sg/2021/03/grabpay-visa-credit-card-fee/

Hmmm. The Grab system not fool proof. Got loop hole. Poor guy! https://goodyfeed.com/grabfood-500-large-order/

https://www.cccs.gov.sg/media-and-consultation/newsroom/media-releases/cccs-consults-grab-application-to-impose-platform-fee 1. The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”) is inviting public feedback from 28 July to 11 August 2020, on an application by Grab[1] to impose a platform fee on riders for its ride-hailing services in Singapore (“the Application”). If granted, this will amount to a variation of the directions[2] issued by CCCS to Grab on 24 September 2018 (“the Directions”). Background 2. On 24 September 2018, CCCS issued an Infringement Decision[3] (“ID”) against Grab and Uber (collectively, the “Parties”) in relation to the sale of Uber’s Southeast Asian business to Grab for a 27.5% stake in Grab in return (“Transaction”). CCCS found that the Transaction, completed on 26 March 2018, infringed section 54 of the Competition Act and had led to a substantial lessening of competition (“SLC”) in the provision of ride-hailing platform services in Singapore. Together with the ID, CCCS issued the Directions to the Parties to lessen the adverse impact of the Transaction on drivers and riders and to keep the market open and contestable. 3. Under the Directions, Grab is required to maintain its pre-Transaction pricing, pricing policies and product options (including driver commission rates and structures) for all its products in the ride-hailing platform services market.[4] Consequently, Grab is not allowed to change its pre-Transaction prices or products without prior approval from CCCS. However, Grab may apply to CCCS to vary or remove the Directions.[5] Grab’s Application 4. Grab has applied to CCCS to vary the Directions to allow the imposition of a platform fee of S$0.30 (S$0.32 with GST) on each ride. Grab submitted that it invests heavily to provide both passengers and drivers with a safe and pleasant experience on its platform. Grab submitted that this is a practice that is in line with ride-hailing industry norm. Grab submitted that the S$0.30 platform fee per ride will enable Grab to maintain and enhance the various safety measures and cover the relevant operating costs. A third of the funds collected through the platform fee will be committed towards providing benefits for driver welfare. Public Consultation 5. CCCS is seeking public feedback to assist in its assessment of Grab’s Application. In its assessment, CCCS will take into consideration the factors which are outlined in the Public Consultation Paper in Annex 1. The closing date for submissions of feedback to CCCS is 11 August 2020, 5 pm. If the submission or correspondence contains confidential information, please also provide CCCS with a non-confidential version of the submission or correspondence. 6. CCCS will determine how it should decide on Grab’s Application following the public consultation. 7. More information on the public consultation can be accessed and downloaded from the CCCS website at www.cccs.gov.sg under the section “Public Consultation”.

'Grab' concept for SAF transport overhaul source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/grab-concept-for-saf-transport-overhaul 7 Transport tune-up for SAF Tender for new system aims to optimise resources, improve efficiency The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is seeking to overhaul its transport services, including having a portal for soldiers to make last-minute requests for vehicles. This new system is meant to change the way transport services are provided to military units, such as how requests for drivers, vehicles or fuel are made. The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is seeking to overhaul its transport services, including having a portal for soldiers to make last-minute requests for vehicles – similar to a concept employed by private-hire operators like Grab. This new system is meant to change the way transport services are provided to military units from the army, navy or air force, such as how requests for drivers, vehicles or fuel are made. The aim is to optimise SAF’s transport resources and improve the efficiency of operations, by better matching demand to supply. According to tender documents seen by The Straits Times, the new system is also expected to use data analytics to optimise the allocation of resources, based on factors such as the availability of vehicles and drivers, location, distances, and traffic conditions. Called the Next Generation Transport System, it is expected to be deployed 17 months from when the project kicks off, which is within two weeks after the contract has been signed. A tender for the system was published on Dec 5 last year on government procurement portal GeBIZ. The core requirements include the supply and delivery of the system, as well as maintenance support services for five years. The tender documents also set out standards expected for performance tests, cyber-security measures and the need for support services when incidents occur. The tender closed last month. The Ministry of Defence told ST that the army is currently evaluating bids for the tender. “The army seeks to leverage technology to automate and improve the matching of transport demands and resources in a Next Generation Transport System platform,” it said. As of yesterday, the tender has not been awarded. According to the documents, the new transport system should include a one-stop indent portal for transport users and providers to make and respond to requests in the SAF, which uses a “data-driven approach that leverages data analytics for continuous optimisations”. The system should be able to assign the required resources, such as operators and vehicles, which are available and best able to do the job based on the indent request. Selected users can still do a manual override to allocate manually, although “mandatory justifications” have to be entered. In addition, the ordering of military vehicles in advance should be based on a credit-allocation system, where units can submit a request only if they have sufficient credits. The documents state the system should have a tiered charging system, such as a higher credit deduction for last-minute orders. It should also have surge or peakperiod charging, as well as penalty charges for late cancellations or if complaints are made. For last-minute tasks, there will be a pool of military vehicles with assigned operators on stand-by, which is similar to Grab’s concept, it added. The system should also be able to track data including fulfilment rate, mileage, accidents and anomaly reports such as when a vehicle uses 20 per cent more fuel than is expected. It should also track details about drivers and build a driving profile based on information such as driving behaviour, past performance and accident records. “Combining the optimisation tool and the driver profile, (the system) can match the transport operator to the tasking commensurate with his skill level.” Tender documents state that the system should also include a userfriendly mobile app that allows a driver to access his own profile and get notifications of new tasks, and has a route-planning feature. LEVERAGING TECHNOLOGY The army seeks to leverage technology to automate and improve the matching of transport demands and resources in a Next Generation Transport System platform. THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, to The Straits Times. It said the army is currently evaluating bids for the tender.

Move to raise private-hire firms' service, safety standards PUBLISHED JAN 13, 2020, 5:00 AM SGT Private-hire cars with deep dents, broken lights, mismatched tyres or which look like they have had a good few years on them are on the way out. But young drivers will remain, for now. Rules and regulations for the point-to-point (P2P) regulatory framework are being finalised. When effective from June, they are likely to encourage firms to raise their service and safety standards. ... https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/move-to-raise-private-hire-firms-service-safety-standards

Disclaimer: Lengthy post here Just touched down at Changi Airport terminal 1. Seems to have a few flights that touched down around the same time that caused a surge for Grab and Gojek. Been trying for roughly 10 minutes to get a grab but to no avail. *Fare shows $11* Finally we got a car from Gojek to pick up at T1 Arrival gate 9. *Fare is $14* This driver had been showing signs of weirdness when he picked us up. These are the questions he asked, Driver: 3 persons travelling? Us: Yes *light laughter* Driver: Welcome back to Singapore Us: Thank you Driver: Does that entitles me to a tip? Us: Awkward laughter Me: I can give you 5 stars rating Driver: 5 stars rating is of no use for Gojek, useful for Grab though Us: Well, different platform, sorry to hear about that. Driver: Grab surge is $21 for a trip to Tampines now, so it will be nice if you can leave me a tip. Do you mind? Normally I will suggest my clients to leave me a tip of $3 if they don’t mind. Do you mind? At this moment, I’m already kind of pissed. Having just arrived from a red-eye flight. It was silence and we ignored to whatever he was blabbering about. Can you believe it, he continued by asking us AGAIN, “Do you mind leaving me a tip?” Me: Yes I do mind *hoping that he will STFU* Of course he wouldn’t keep quiet and drive right. Guess what he said?! Driver: Well ok if you do mind, I guess I will have to drop you at the nearest bus stop. Me: Dude you serious?! Driver: Yes, because I asked if you mind tipping me and you said you mind. So do you mind me dropping you off here at the middle of the road? Me: You f*ing serious right now?! Driver: I don’t want to force you to tip me, so I will drop you off at the nearest drop off point and you can try using grab. Me: If you are so unhappy with the fare Gojek platform offers, why did you accept the job in the first place?! After picking up your passengers, here you are demanding a tip and kept comparing the benefits between both platforms (Grab & Gojek). If you are not happy with what Gojek offers you, then drive with Grab! Basically he cancelled the ride on route and dropped us off at a bus stop along the airport. (20 Airport boulevard). While we offload our bags and luggage, he got off the car and said everything is recorded. Me: Go ahead and bring the video to the police. Driver: Cause I know who really needs a ride now. Good luck my friends! What a night with a nutcase. PS: I’m not saying that I’m a saint here and trying to thrash someone or being difficult. Of course during the argument, there were fingers being exchanged (the most classic finger) and yes, the F word.

Grab launches first numberless credit card in Asia source: https://mothership.sg/2019/12/grabpay-credit-card/ Grab announced the launch of GrabPay card in partnership with MasterCard on Dec. 5, it’s also the first numberless credit card available in Asia. Numberless credit card? Wha? The physical GrabPay card is completely numberless, front and back, and it looks something like this. The physical numberless card is designed to minimize security concerns, to prevent theft of personal and financial information. No more cashiers using their photographic memory to capture your credit card information. The card numbers will be reflected in the digital version of the card. GrabPay wallet users will have the details of their card stored within the Grab app. Great card for travel For those who prefer travelling cashless, the GrabPay card offers a foreign exchange fee of two per cent, a bargain compared to other cards out there, which range mostly between 2.8 per cent to 3.5 per cent. GrabPay Card users are also entitled to flight delay passes, they can access over 1,000 airport lounges across 100 countries if they face delays for over two hours. Rewards points galore On top of that, money spent on the GrabPay card can be earned as GrabReward points, credited at the point of transaction. As part of a limited launch promotion period, the GrabPay Card will reward users with up to 10x GrabRewards points per every dollar spent, redeemable all over Southeast Asia. Samsung users can add their digital GrabPay Card to their Samsung Pay wallet and make offline payments as well.

Microfinance at 6.5 % admin fee. It is nice to see company like grab thinking of how digital banking will aid them to move forward. Have we forgotten to be prudence during hard times like now where the economy is not doing well, or are we of the opinion that as long as we dont see alot of retrenchment, we are cushion on the day to day aspect? Maybe its time to echo bad times are near and music is going to stop . **** While the programme might give workers in need of cash a better alternative to borrowing from moneylenders, they should also be very careful as it could make it difficult for them to find alternative employment, Mr Zainal said. **** The same could be true where the employee holds the company hostage. If you reduce the workforce and I am affected, you not getting your loans back.😜 https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/transport/grab-scheme-offering-cash-advances-raises-eyebrows-minlaw-seeking-more-info-on SINGAPORE - Food delivery rider Atikah Ahzamshah will be jetting off to Milan for a well-earned Italian holiday thanks partly to a new cash advance scheme being run by Grab that is raising some concerns. Ms Atikah, 27, took a cash advance of about $1,380 from Grab last month to buy the return air ticket. The GrabFood rider requested an advance of about $1,470. A 6.5 per cent admin fee was immediately deducted. She is repaying the sum at the rate of $57 a week for 26 weeks. "I could have bought the ticket without the advance, but it makes it easier for me as I will have some extra money to pay for my bills while I am away," said Ms Atikah. She is among number of Grab's food delivery riders and private-hire drivers who have been offered the chance to tap into Grab's Upfront Cash programme in recent months. The scheme, which Grab says is not a loan, lets selected workers instantly get hold of part of their projected future earnings. The limit is determined based on factors such as a worker's individual earning history. Screenshots circulated by workers indicate that the advance could be as high as $8,900, with admin fees up to 8 per cent. Those offered the option have welcomed it, although experts said such an arrangement is uncommon in Singapore. It has also raised eyebrows among the authorities and observers. The Ministry of Law told The Straits Times: "We are seeking further information from Grab on the Upfront Cash Programme, and will work with relevant agencies to ascertain the applicable legislation, if any." Mr Zainal Sapari, the deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee of Manpower, added: "I have some concerns ... as the borrowers may find themselves in financial distress (if) they are unable to repay their (cash advance) and find themselves in debt." While the programme might give workers in need of cash a better alternative to borrowing from moneylenders, they should also be very careful as it could make it difficult for them to find alternative employment, Mr Zainal said. "I hope Grab does not use this scheme as a way to retain or bind their workers to continue working as their rider or driver," he added. Grab is the biggest player in both the ride-hailing and food delivery scene here. Its major rivals are yet to offer a similar cash advance programme. Labour MP Ang Hin Kee, executive adviser to the National Private Hire Vehicles Association, said the association will "step in to see how it can assist drivers if we notice unintended consequences where drivers are burdened". But he also noted that the programme was a form of disruption by Grab, which is eyeing a digital banking licence in Singapore. "Because Grab pays the workers, they have the data to know their credit worthiness and they are not randomly loaning to any person," he noted. Manpower rules allow employers to deduct their employees' salary to recover advances and loans. But for workers considered to be self-employed, such as food delivery riders and private-hire drivers, the terms and conditions of employment will be based on their employment contract. Grab told the ST that the programme does not offer loans and is structured in a way that does not require a licence. It said the one-time admin fee, which is a payment for providing the service, is a variable percentage of the advance taken up. "The (advanced) amount for each partner is determined based on multiple considerations, which include the partner's past incentive earnings and driving history," said Grab. The earnings of food delivery riders and private-hire drivers vary based on the hours they work and the incentives they trigger. Many full-timers can earn a monthly income between $2,000 to $3,000 but those who work more reap more. Grab declined to reveal how many workers have signed up for the Upfront Cash programme. It said the scheme empowers workers with "flexible cash flows for situations like family emergencies or when they need to pay for big-ticket items". Nanyang Business School Adjunct Associate Professor Zafar Momin said companies globally do offer payroll advances. He estimates that about 10 to 15 per cent of firms in the United States have offered such programmes to their workers. "For employers there are clear benefits in terms of creating potentially happier employees that have been saved from the distraction and duress of financial stress, which, in turn, could lead to higher employee productivity and lower turnover," said Prof Zafar. But there is the risk of workers not using the advance payment wisely and blowing it on indulgences or non-urgent needs, he added. Grab said it has implemented "various measures" to help drivers and riders with repayments: "For partners who fall short of their target incentive earnings and thus face issues in repayments, we have a dedicated team to assist these partners on a case-by-case basis." While Grab has said that the programme is "a purchase of receivables" from workers on its platforms, Singapore Institute of Technology Professor of Accounting Ho Yew Kee told ST that the term usually refers to party selling a receivable to a bank or a financial situation at a discount. "In this case, it is more like an advancement of future income, like a loan," he said. "It may be worth the Ministry to take a look at this to prevent the administrative charges from becoming unreasonable." But in spite of the concerns, workers such as Ms Atikah said the programme is still a welcome option: "My repayment process has been smooth so far as I am working almost everyday. "I think it is good as it helps people who work for Grab quickly settle their debts or other financial matters in advance."

source: https://mustsharenews.com/grab-japan-middle-east/ S’pore Grab App Lets You Book Rides In Japan & The Middle East So Your Holiday Will Be A Breeze Book Rides In Japan & The Middle East Using Your Current Grab App From 19 Nov Planned an exotic trip this end-of-year holidays but worried about how to get around an unfamiliar country? Well if you’re visiting Japan or a country in the Middle East, Grab has got you covered. The company announced yesterday (18 Nov) that starting today (19 Nov), users in Singapore and the Philippines can book and pay for rides in Japan and the Middle East. Book & pay for rides in Japan & the Middle East This new privilege covers 5 cities in Japan and 94 cities across 13 countries in the Middle East. You can see the full list in the table below: Good thing is, the list includes major cities like Tokyo and Kyoto in Japan, as well as Dubai, Istanbul and Mecca in the Middle East. Those intending to visit these popular destinations anytime soon will have peace of mind knowing that it’ll be easier to get around from one point to another. How to book a Grab ride overseas Of course, it isn’t as easy as simply booking and paying like you’re in Singapore. You’ll need to prepare for your trip well in advance by ensuring that you have set up and verified your GrabPay Wallet. Make sure there’re enough credits inside! Grab has partnered with JapanTaxi in Japan and Careem in the Middle East to provide the seamless service. You can still access everything via the Grab app, and book and pay for a ride via these 4 steps: Tap on “Transport” to confirm your location upon arrival in Japan or the Middle East Enter your pick-up and drop-off points Choose your ride (rates will be in SGD) Tap “Book Now” Pretty neat isn’t it? Now you won’t have to install other countries’ taxi apps or hail a cab by the side of the road anymore. Yay for technology.