For most motorists, the car is how they get to work. For e-hailing drivers, the car is the work. That is why e-hailing vehicle maintenance in Malaysia deserves more attention than it usually gets, and why one line in Budget 2027 stands out for anyone who drives for a living.

On 9 October 2026, Business Today reported that the government and Grab will jointly fund a RM160 million package for gig workers starting in 2027. Alongside higher minimum earnings rates and social security support, the package includes assistance with vehicle maintenance and insurance costs. The report estimated that median e-hailing drivers could see monthly net income rise by up to RM227, and p-hailing delivery riders by up to RM100.

Details on how the maintenance support will work, including amounts and eligibility, had not been published at the time of writing. But the inclusion itself is significant. It recognises that keeping a car roadworthy is a real cost of earning an income, not an optional extra.

What Did Budget 2027 Announce for Drivers?

Based on reporting by Business Today and paultan.org's live coverage on 9 October, the transport-related measures most relevant to working drivers include:

• A RM160 million gig worker package, jointly funded by the government and Grab, covering higher minimum earnings, help with vehicle maintenance and insurance, and SOCSO support.
• SOCSO and EPF matching incentives, including a 35% SOCSO matching incentive that rises to 50% if platform companies also contribute.
• A one-off RM1,000 payment for 38,000 taxi and hire-car drivers and 15,000 school bus drivers.
• Mandatory telematics for commercial vehicles, monitoring speed, location and risky driving. Paultan.org reported this will be voluntary until 2027 while a driver database is developed.
• Regulation of the p-hailing sector under APAD and LPKP.

Together, these measures treat people who drive for a living more formally, with more support and more accountability. Vehicle condition sits in the middle of both.

Why Do E-Hailing Cars Wear Faster?

An e-hailing car lives a very different life from a family car that does the school run and a weekend trip. The pattern of use matters as much as the distance:

• High mileage in a short time. A full-time driver can cover in one year what a private owner covers in several.
• Constant stop-start city driving. Repeated braking and acceleration load the brakes, drive shafts and engine mounts.
• Speed humps, potholes and kerbs. Every bump is absorbed by shock absorbers, bushings and joints, many times a day.
• Full loads. Passengers and luggage add weight that springs and dampers must carry.
• Tight manoeuvring. Pick-ups and U-turns work the steering at full lock, stressing tie rod ends, rack ends and CV joints.

Parts a private owner might replace once can wear out several times for a working driver, so distance and conditions, not time alone, should set the schedule.

Which Parts Should High-Mileage Drivers Watch Most Closely?

For a working driver, the goal is simple: avoid surprise breakdowns, keep passengers comfortable and protect ratings. The chassis is where much of that is won or lost. Priorities include:

• Brake pads and discs. Inspect regularly and replace in axle pairs. Watch for squealing, vibration under braking or a longer pedal.
• Shock absorbers and struts. A bouncy or floaty ride, nose-diving under braking, or oil on the damper body are signs they are tired.
• Stabilizer links. Rattles or knocks over uneven roads are a common early warning, and passengers notice them.
• Ball joints and tie rod ends. Wandering steering, clunks when turning or uneven front tyre wear suggest wear in the steering joints.
• Strut mounts and bump stops. Knocking when turning or on rough roads often points to a worn mount; a cracked bump stop leaves the damper unprotected.
• Drive shaft boots. A torn boot lets grease out and dirt in, and a clicking noise on full lock can follow.

SAIKO's general workshop guidance is to consider replacing a suspension kit every 50,000 km or two years, and coil springs at around 100,000 km. For an e-hailing car, the distance threshold will usually arrive long before the time limit, so drivers should plan around kilometres.

Quality matters most when mileage is high. A cheaper part that wears out quickly costs a working driver twice: once for the replacement, and again in lost hours off the road. In SAIKO's own 7.0 kN stress survival test of ball-joint-style parts, an unnamed aftermarket competitor's part failed at 50,000 cycles and an OEM part at 100,000 cycles, while the SAIKO part completed 247,274 cycles with no damage. SAIKO describes this as up to 2× longer than OEM and up to 4× longer than competitors, supported by sealed, maintenance-free POM bearing technology.

A Practical Maintenance Plan for Working Drivers

Whatever form the Budget 2027 maintenance support takes, drivers can start now:

• Log your kilometres and set service reminders by distance, not just date.
• Ask for a chassis check at every service, not only an oil change.
• Act on noises early. A knock that costs little to fix today can damage other parts if ignored.
• Choose direct-fit parts that install without modification and restore correct alignment.
• Keep receipts and records. If support schemes require proof of maintenance, good records will help.

Safety and income go together for e-hailing drivers. A well-maintained car is more reliable, more comfortable for passengers and less likely to be off the road when demand is highest. With telematics and formal regulation on the way, a car in good condition is also a professional asset.

SAIKO has supplied quality-controlled automotive replacement parts since 2007, with coverage for more than 400 vehicle models and a nationwide dealer network. Find SAIKO steering, suspension and brake parts through a dealer near you at saiko.com.my