KUALA LUMPUR: Bike-hailing companies such as Indonesia’s Gojek and local start-up Dego Ride will be allowed to begin operations under a pilot project this coming January, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

The companies will be allowed to offer rides under a six-month Proof of Concept (POC) pilot project to assess the system, while awaiting laws to be passed to regulate bike-hailing.

"Among the conditions of the POC is that it will be confined to the Klang Valley.

"Other conditions are that the riders must be not less than 18 years old, and they can only ferry one passenger at a time, who are not less than 18 years old," he said when answering a question raised by Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (PH-Setiawangsa) during Minister's Question Time in Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Nov 5).

He added that the riders and their motorcycles must be clearly identifiable during the POC period.

The bike-hailing motorcycles must also not be more than five years old with riders and passengers insured.

"The POC will also allow the government and companies involved to gather data, assess the availability and demand levels and other services related to bike-hailing," he added.

To ensure safety, he said that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) and police would be involved in enforcing laws based on the Road Transport Act.

Loke said the government was implementing the pilot project as it would would take time for the relevant laws on bike-hailing to be drafted, tabled and passed by Parliament.

On Nov 1, the government announced that it would allow bike-hailing services as a means to improve on the last mile connectivity for public transportation system.