Speech by Dr Amy Khor Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Transport and Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment at Gojek’s 5th Anniversary Celebration and Launch of Safety Booklet for Driver Partners

1.     Good afternoon everyone. Thank you for inviting me to join all of you today at the 5th anniversary of Gojek Singapore. I hope the workout has energised everyone – besides being a good reminder that we must make time for exercise to keep healthy, I think this also reflects Gojek’s mindset as a P2P company that is five years young – energetic and dynamic.

2.     But indeed, five years is a significant milestone in this sector. This is especially since the five years spanned the Covid pandemic period, which was a particularly difficult time for the sector. I would like to thank Gojek for staying the course, and working with Government and associations to support our drivers during those difficult times. Many of us would also recall Gojek providing free rides to and from vaccination centres, which was greatly appreciated by many commuters.

3.     As you would know, the sector has rebounded strongly since then, and demand for ride hail services continues to grow. Gojek will continue to have an important role in serving both commuters and drivers. As we move towards a car-lite future, P2P trips will remain a vital component of our land transport ecosystem for commuters who require car-like services, giving them the convenience of getting from point to point without owning a car. 

4.     One important factor is keeping the sector open and competitive, so that both drivers and commuters have a range of options, and their interests are protected. I encourage Gojek to continue to be attuned to feedback from your stakeholders, and to adjust your model to stay relevant.

5.     Since the P2P regulatory framework was launched in 2020, demand for P2P services has continued to grow and commuter needs have also evolved. To ensure the sector continues to serve our commuters and drivers well, we have embarked on a review of the framework, and have started to reach out to commuters, taxi and ride-hail operators, drivers and driver associations, as well as transport academics and experts in this area. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, we had our first focus group discussion with more than 50 taxi and PHC drivers and commuters, where they shared various concerns and challenges they faced, and some ideas to improve the sector.

6.     Finally, I am heartened that you have made safety a big component of your fifth anniversary celebrations. Safety is clearly a part of your DNA, and I commend you once again for winning the Merit award for Operational Safety at LTA’s Public Transport Safety and Security Awards this year. 

7.     Keeping our drivers safe is paramount – without our drivers, we won’t have P2P services. I know that the workday in this sector can be tough. Our drivers are on the roads for hours every day, rain or shine, including many seniors. Most will want to clock more hours on the road to serve commuters and provide for our families. 

8.     But health and safety must come first. Just as most of you will know that it is essential to keep your vehicle in good shape, it is equally important to make sure that you are keeping fit and getting proper rest during your downtime, so that you can always be alert and safe on the road. The Safety Booklet that Gojek is launching today will be a handy guide. Do familiarise yourselves with the safety tips so that safety becomes a way of life. I look forward to hearing some of your own tips later.

9.     Once again, allow me to congratulate Gojek for achieving this milestone. Happy 5th Anniversary!