Akmal Azhar
Allianz Malaysia has taken a proactive step towards improving road safety by joining forces with the Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (MIROS) and leading ride‑hailing platforms, including foodpanda Malaysia, Grab Malaysia, and Lalamove Malaysia. This collaboration was formally unveiled during the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, where stakeholders convened to address the mounting safety challenges faced by p‑hailing riders and explore coordinated solutions for a safer delivery ecosystem.
Commitment to Collective Responsibility
At the forum, Allianz Malaysia’s Chief Executive Officer Sean Wang emphasized the company’s belief that rider safety is a collective responsibility. He reiterated Allianz’s commitment not only to providing insurance services but also to actively contributing to community well‑being by supporting initiatives that enhance safety for all road users.
The Alarming Statistics Behind the Initiative
Supporting this principle, MIROS’s Ir. Ts. Azhar Hamzah—Director of the Human Factors and Road User Behavioural Centre—highlighted that nearly 70 percent of road fatalities involve motorcyclists, with over 4,000 deaths recorded in 2023/24 (averaging about 12 deaths per day), alongside a ratio of approximately 50 injuries for every fatal accident. He stressed that safety education and risk mitigation must involve structured research and multi‑stakeholder collaboration.
The Pivotal Role of Delivery Riders
Recognizing the critical role delivery riders play in Malaysia’s growing gig economy, Allianz pointed out that many riders are sole breadwinners working long hours in challenging weather and high‑traffic conditions. These riders are integral to the nation’s convenience economy—delivering essentials from meals to medicines while often facing road hazards such as fatigue, poor visibility, and traffic congestion.
Existing Safety Measures by Ride‑Hailing Platforms
In response, the ride‑hailing companies themselves have already started rolling out safety measures—including onboarding programs for defensive driving, insurance coverage that extends beyond active duty hours, in‑app safety features with round‑the‑clock support, and telematics tracking to monitor rider behavior and identify accident hotspots—all designed to reinforce rider protection within their platforms.
Allianz’s Training Programmes for Riders and Youth
As part of concrete actions within this partnership, Allianz Malaysia will launch two training programmes in collaboration with the Road Safety Marshal Club. The first will be dedicated to rider safety training and road emergency survival skills, complementing existing p‑hailing efforts by equipping riders with the knowledge they need to safely navigate Malaysia’s roads. The second programme will be aimed at students from public and private universities, with the goal of instilling a broader culture of road safety awareness among young adults.
Forum as a Platform for Shared Responsibility
At the Allianz Malaysia Media Forum 2025, representatives from MIROS and p‑hailing platforms shared insights into the current operational challenges and jointly affirmed the necessity of coordinated strategies to enhance safety for delivery gig workers. The forum underscored the collective duty held by government agencies, corporations, platform operators, riders, and the public in safeguarding these essential yet vulnerable members of the workforce.
Moving from Research to Action
In partnering with MIROS and key ride‑hailing platforms, Allianz Malaysia is demonstrating a hands‑on commitment to transforming research insights into meaningful action. These initiatives mark a significant step toward building a safer delivery ecosystem by offering structured training, encouraging safety-first protocols, and promoting public empathy toward riders. Ultimately, the goal is to elevate rider welfare and foster a culture of shared accountability across Malaysia’s roads.
Zakirin
