PETALING JAYA: The ongoing Middle East conflict is beginning to cast a shadow over the livelihoods of local e-hailing drivers, as international flight disruptions threaten to reduce airport trips. A full-time e-hailing driver, who wished to be known only as Ahmad, said the ripple effects of the Middle East tensions are already affecting his daily earnings. “Usually, I rely on KL Inter­national Airport (KLIA) runs for a good chunk of my earnings because the fares are higher, but lately, there are noticeably fewer pings for airport drop-offs and pick-ups,” the 42-year-old said. For full-time Grab driver Amirul Amin, the escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are not just distant news headlines as they are being felt right inside his car. Gabungan eHailing Malaysia chief activist Masrizal Mahidin said while the immediate impact on Malaysian drivers is still relatively limited, airport trips are closely tied to international flights, affecting those who are more reliant on them.

Source: The Star March 20, 2026 02:21 UTC