Go-Jek drivers protest outside Malaysian Embassy demanding direct apology from taxi boss for ‘poor Indonesians’ remark

Go-Jek drivers protesting outside the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta on Sep 3, 2019. Photo: Twitter/@TMCPoldaMetro
Go-Jek drivers protesting outside the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta on Sep 3, 2019. Photo: Twitter/@TMCPoldaMetro

Several hundred motorcycle taxi drivers working for app-based ride hailing services (locally known as online ojek or ojol for short) held a protest outside the Malaysian Embassy in Jakarta today to demand an apology from a Malaysian taxi company owner over his remarks that they said insulted Indonesians and ojols.

Last month, Shamsubahrin Ismail, founder of Malaysia’s Big Blue Taxi Services, derided his government’s decision to allow Indonesian ride-hailing service turned superapp Go-Jek to operate in Malaysia, saying that motorcycle taxis were “only for poor people like in Jakarta, Thailand, India and Cambodia.”

Following huge outcry in Indonesia over the comment, and a threat of a 10,000-strong protest by ojols against Malaysian diplomats in the country, Shamsubahrin apologized last week “in the interests and relationship between both countries.”

But his apology was deemed insufficient by numerous ojols, as hundreds of drivers staged a protest outside the Malaysian Embassy on Jalan HR Rasuna Said in East Jakarta today demanding a direct apology from the taxi boss.

“We want the Malaysian Embassy to bring [Shamsubahrin] Ismail to Indonesia,” a protest coordinator said, as quoted by Detik.

The protest was reportedly attended by 400 Go-Jek drivers while police officers were deployed to secure the area.

Malaysian officials have yet to release a statement regarding today’s protest and demands.



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