As p-hailing riders become an essential part of daily life for Malaysians, Allianz Malaysia Berhad (Allianz Malaysia) is stepping up efforts to protect their safety on the road.

In collaboration with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and major delivery platforms - Grab Malaysia, foodpanda Malaysia and Lalamove Malaysia - the insurer convened the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum 2025 to spotlight rider safety and shared responsibility in Malaysia’s fast-growing gig economy.

The event, titled “Rider Safety, A Shared Duty”, brought together industry stakeholders to address the rising risks faced by delivery riders - many of whom are the sole breadwinners in their families - and to explore collective strategies to improve their safety and well-being.

A growing industry, a growing responsibility

The p-hailing industry, encompassing food and parcel deliveries, has expanded rapidly in recent years, fuelled by consumer demand for convenience and speed. Yet, this growth has also cast a spotlight on the vulnerabilities of p-hailing riders who navigate congested roads and tight schedules daily.

“Rider safety is a shared duty,” said Allianz Malaysia Chief Executive Officer Sean Wang. “We’re not just providing insurance - we’re investing in the community. That includes supporting rider safety initiatives and helping create safer roads for everyone.”

Humanising riders: A panel of perspectives

A key highlight of the forum was a panel sharing session featuring:

Rashid Shukor, Country Operations and Mobility Director, Grab Malaysia
Shubham Saran, Operations Director, foodpanda Malaysia
Abhishek Menon, Public Affairs Manager, Lalamove Malaysia

The session delved into the human side of p-hailing - the physical and emotional challenges riders face, the critical roles they play in communities, and their deep-rooted contribution to their companies’ success.

The panellists called for a community-wide commitment to uplift rider safety, stressing the need for partnerships that go beyond individual company efforts.

Second from left: Rashid Shukor, Country Operations and Mobility Director, Grab Malaysia; Shubham Saran, Operations Director, foodpanda Malaysia; and Abhishek Menon, Public Affairs Manager, Lalamove Malaysia.

From conversation to action

MIROS, represented by Ir Ts Azhar Hamzah, Director of the Human Factors and Road User Behavioural Centre (HUB), shared insights from their research on road safety behaviours and risks faced by delivery riders.

“Through our research, we aim to identify risks and propose meaningful solutions. But safety is everyone’s business - from policy and infrastructure to training and public awareness,” said Azhar.

To complement the forum’s conversations with action, Allianz Malaysia announced two new training programmes in collaboration with the Road Safety Marshal Club. The first targets p-hailing riders, offering safety training and emergency survival skills to strengthen their road readiness. The second programme is designed for university students, aiming to instil safety consciousness among the next generation of road users.

“These programmes are our way of empowering both current and future road users,” added Wang. “We believe education and community action can go a long way in creating safer roads.”

A collective step forward

The forum concluded with a unified call to recognise and protect the individuals who keep the wheels of Malaysia’s delivery economy turning. As rider safety becomes increasingly central to discussions around gig work, events like the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum 2025 mark an important step toward systemic, lasting change.

Whether through corporate responsibility, government collaboration or public awareness, the message was clear: ensuring the safety of p-hailing riders is a shared mission that benefits all.