TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Malaysian Government has given the green light for Indonesian app company Gojek to operate in the country. Malaysian Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Mohd. Redzuan Yusof said that the principal license for the ride-hailing app has been agreed by the whole government cabinet in a meeting on Wednesday, August 21, 2019.

"The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Transportation has been requested to cooperate and discuss the legal framework that needs to be amended or issued. The regulation will allow the [Go-Jek] service to be implemented in the country," Redzuan said as quoted from Malaymail.

Yusof said that the legal framework will immediately be discussed to protect Go-Jek's business security if the Indonesian Unicorn had operated in Malaysia. The main reason for the Malaysian government to allow the app to operate was to develop the country's economy, especially for millennials.

Meanwhile, Malaysian Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman has announced the news about Gojek's operational license in Malaysia through his personal Instagram account.

"The cabinet has unanimously approved the economic capital of Go-Jek DegoRide. Thank you for all who helped to achieve this dream, especially, YAB Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Transportation Minister Anthony Loke," Saddiq wrote, and was later responded by thousands of users.

Saddiq hoped that with the Go-Jek's presence in Malaysia will open new work opportunities for the country's citizens. In addition, Go-Jek - and a variety of its services is said to be able to support the development of small-medium enterprises.

Vice President of Go-Jek Indonesia Kristy Nelwan, said that his company appreciated the opportunity to operate in Malaysia. The ride-hailing app, Kristy said, can create a positive business climate in the neighboring country.

"Go-Jek will provide options for customers, open new work opportunities for independent economic players, and help Malaysian small-medium enterprises to develop," Kristy said through a text message to Tempo on Thursday, August 22, 2019.

Go-Jek Group President Andre Soelistyo said that the process of cooperating with the Malaysian Government was not easy. He admitted that the company had previously attempted to communicate with the local government a couple of times.

In Malaysia, Gojek will compete with three similar businesses. Its main competitor will be Grab, Malaysian local app provider company that has expanded to a number of ASEAN member countries.

FRANCISCA CHRISTY ROSANA