If you regularly Grab (we don’t care, we’re using it as a verb!), you’d know that fares have risen significantly since Uber exited the region last year. You’d also probably have heard by now that current prices are gonna increase again come July 12.

Reason? A whole bunch of e-hailing drivers haven't gotten their mandatory Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licences and it’s unlikely they’ll manage to before the Friday deadline.

This is going to cause a huge supply-demand issue which, in turn, will have a direct impact on prices. E-hailing companies use special algorithms to match supply with demand - less supply/fewer cars on the road means higher fares. In fact, the Malaysian E-hailing Drivers Association (MeHDA) is predicting increases in fares of as much as 50%!

Also, we probably don’t need to say this but we will anyway: fewer cars means having to wait a whole lot longer for rides.

It’s hard to tell how this is gonna play out in the long run. As of now, it’s not looking good for commuters who, it must be added, initially switched from regular cabs (Malaysia's cabbies not too long ago were named the worst in the world) to e-hailing rides due to the latter being way cheaper and far easier to get.

The government needs to be careful it doesn't legislate such disruptive new companies out of business as they give people much-needed alternative sources of income. Good news, Grab Malaysia is offering a host of cash reimbursements and cost-lowering initiatives to its drivers applying for the PSV license.

Meanwhile, taxi drivers are, naturally, ecstatic that a huge chunk of their competition will be eliminated from the market. However, it’s not clear whether they’re happy that, after a long time, they’ll finally be able to make some dough, or if they’re just thrilled that they can get back to old tricks like not turning their meters on. 

On July 16, if all goes to plan, that bill to lower the minimum voting age from 21 to 18 years will be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat. And what's better is that it will be presented alongside another provision which will permit, for the very first time in Malaysian history, automatic voter registration.

What this effectively means is, once the law comes into effect, every Malaysian will be automatically eligible to vote as soon as he or she turns 18!

If you recall, Barisan Nasional had last week voiced its support for lowering the voting age, so long as automatic registration is introduced. Well, Pakatan has now agreed to that. So expect the provisions to be passed with no or very little fuss, and Jibby Razak and co. to be rubbing their hands in glee at the thought of Bossku’s young rempit supporters playing a crucial role in GE15.

The age of candidacy will also be reduced to 18. So yes, we may soon see MPs even younger than Batu’s P. Prabakaran (who's 23) in the house.

Meanwhile, now that its manifesto pledge regarding voting is gonna be fulfilled, Pakatan’s commander-in-chief Dr Maddey Mohamad says the government will look at ways to fulfil other promises. Thing is, he did also say that a committee would need to be formed first. So perhaps we shouldn't be holding our breaths, eh?

Speaking of Maddey, the PM has clarified that his invitation to join Bersatu was not meant for Malay-based parties but the members of Malay parties. Eh? The premier means to say he didn’t ask for Umno and PAS to merge with Bersatu, he just invited their members to join. 

So yeah, apparently there's no need to make a big fuss. Pakatan Harapan won’t accept any more parties. However, if individual members want to pull a Kermit and party hop, that’s fine.

Yes, we know. We’re scratching our heads too and asking what the big, bloody difference is!

Anyhoo, the majority of Maddey’s Pakatan colleagues seem satisfied with his explanation. And, we guess, that's all that matters. Also, it must've helped that no one from Umno – at least not anyone bigtime, like Zahid Hamidi or Khairy Jamaluddin – actually took up the PM’s offer. 

DAP’s Nga Kor Ming’s has, however, urged Pakatan to move away from race-based politics in the shaping of a new Malaysia. Unfortunately, for Nga, his coalition mates were probably more focused on Maddey to pay the statement much attention.

Suspects hauled to court by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission will no longer need to wear the orange uniforms regularly associated with graft charges here.

And the main reason for the move has to do with a major principle in criminal law – the presumption of innocence. Ya know, innocent until proven guilty and all that.

Yes, Malaysia did away with jury trials yonks ago, so the danger of jurors being prejudiced by the sight of accused persons in prison uniforms isn't really a factor. However, there are still the media and public to contend with. Like it or not, when folks see someone dressed in prison attire, they may start to think that someone looks mighty guilty.

Anyway, the new rule, which will see orange attire being confined to the lock-up, is part of several reforms being introduced under new graft-busting head honcho Latheefa Koya. And, hopefully, these will allow for fairer proceedings.

Incidentally, there’s a movement in certain countries to do away with prison uniforms altogether as there're studies that suggest they do more psychological harm than good and make it harder for criminals to go straight. This Newsweek article on the subject is particularly eye-opening.

Hey, if this costume change makes for a better, more, er, just justice system, we're all for it.