PARLIAMENT | Uber and Grab drivers may soon have to apply for special licences after bills seeking to regulate e-hailing services were tabled in the Dewan Rakyat today.

At the same time, the bills will also provide protection for e-hailing drivers from harassment.

The bills seek to amend the Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) Act as well as the Land Public Transport Act.

Amendments to the CVLB Act will require e-hailing vehicles to be classified as a public service vehicle, requiring operators to get an intermediation business licence to be issued by the Land Public Transport Commission (Spad).

Details about the intermediation business licence is detailed in the Land Public Transport Act amendments, which states that licensees will have to pay a fee which will be determined by Spad.

Individuals who operate e-hailing services without the licence can be fined up to RM500,000, or jailed up to three years, or both.

Those who fail to comply with the licence conditions meanwhile can be fined between RM1,000 to RM200,000, jailed up to two years, or both.

Uber and Grab have been disruptive forces in the public transport market, offering cheaper alternatives to taxis.

Cabbies claim that Uber and Grab are stealing their livelihoods and have launched numerous protests against the e-hailing services.

The have also been reports of cabbies attacking Uber and Grab drivers and their cars.

Amendments to the Land Public Transport Act have inserted a clause to deter such incidents.

A proposed amendment to Section 200 of the Act punishes those who "assault, hinders or obstructs" intermediate business licensees and other license holders or their employees.

Those convicted can be fined RM1,000, or jailed three months, or both.