Welfare of Foodpanda staff, MAS to get Dewan Rakyat's attention

PARLIAMENT |  The question on whether the government is prepared to regulate the gig economy to protect the welfare of workers in the sector is among the issues which will be raised at Dewan Rakyat today.

According to Dewan Rakyat order paper, the question was submitted by Mohamed Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil (PH-Lembah Pantai) to the Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad during ministers' question time this morning.

A gig economy is a free market system in which temporary positions are common and organisations contract with independent workers for short-term engagements.

Among the business models identified in the gig economy are Food Panda, Uber, Grab and Airbnb which use the digital platform for their business activities.

Another interesting question was submitted by Alexander Nanta Linggi (GPS-Kapit) who wanted to know from the Economic Affairs Minister whether Japan was interested in taking over Malaysia Airlines (MAS) as well as the approach adopted by the country in making the offer.

Former Agriculture and Agro-based Industry deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (BN-Pasir Salak) also joined the session by asking the effects on palm oil export following India's decision to raise the import value of the commodity to 25 percent and whether the export value of palm oil to China had increased in view of the cordial relations with the country.

The Dewan Rakyat sitting is scheduled to be held until Dec 5.

- Bernama