Malaysia to give delivery riders up to 30% motorcycle maintenance subsidy
The government of Melaka, Malaysia, is set to subsidize motorcycle servicing for more than 3,000 app-based delivery riders across the state.
Under the planned program, eligible riders will receive a 20% to 30% subsidy on motorcycle maintenance costs when they have their bikes serviced at selected workshops.
Melaka Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh, said the initiative is intended to reduce the financial burden on delivery riders, whose motorcycles are essential to their livelihood.
Delivery riders who send their motorcycles for service will receive a subsidy of 20% to 30% off the total cost. Their welfare remains a priority for the state government, and this initiative aligns with the Melaka Sayang Rakyat (MeSRa) concept.
The program will involve selected motorcycle repair shops appointed in each state constituency.
The allocation for the initiative is expected to be discussed at the state executive council meeting this week, with an official announcement expected next week. Details on registration for participating workshops and service providers are also expected to be released.
Among the service platforms expected to be involved are Grab, Foodpanda, and Shopee.
Motorcycle maintenance is part of the job
For delivery riders, motorcycle maintenance is a regular operating expense that comes out of their own pockets.
Spending hours on the road every day also means tires, brakes, engine oil, drive belts or chains, and other consumable parts can wear out faster than they would on motorcycles used mainly for personal transportation, such as commuting to and from the office.
The Melaka government said the program is part of its efforts to support delivery riders, who have become an important part of the state’s digital economy. Ab Rauf also said the state is looking at ways to expand social security contributions through Perkeso, Malaysia’s social security organization, for delivery riders.
The servicing subsidy is not yet in effect, with the Melaka government still finalizing the program’s allocation, participating workshops, and registration process.
What if the Philippines did the same?
For the thousands of Juan dela Cruz delivery riders, a similar motorcycle maintenance subsidy could make a meaningful difference.
Take a Lalamove rider, for example. If a motorcycle’s periodic maintenance service costs PHP 1,000, covering an oil change, CVT cleaning, air cleaner, and spark plug replacement, a 30% government subsidy would bring the rider’s share down to just PHP 700.
That’s PHP 300 saved on a single service. The same 20% to 30% assistance could also make a difference when replacing worn tires or other maintenance items, depending on what the program covers.
For someone who spends most of the day riding to earn a living, PHP 300 means a lot, and it could help pay for a few kilos of rice, some groceries, or even a simple McDonald’s or Jollibee meal for the son or daughter waiting at home.
Malaysia is preparing to put this kind of assistance on the table for its delivery riders.
Could something similar happen here?
For now, Pinoy riders can only wish.
