Pertahanan Awam Jonathan Vela, Special Officer to the Political Secretary of The Honourable Prime Minister of Malaysia; Yang Berbahagia Datuk Nitesh Malani, Chairman of Yayasan Usahawan Malaysia; Mr. Joshua Tan, Castrol Head of Marketing for Malaysia, Singapore & Philippines.
KUALA LUMPUR, 21 July 2026 – Castrol Malaysia has launched eHailing Heroes, a 12-month programme developed with the support of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture Malaysia (MOTAC) and Persatuan Pengguna Pengangkutan Awam Malaysia (4PAM) to help e-hailing drivers manage vehicle maintenance costs while contributing to smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers during Visit Malaysia 2026 (VM2026).
The programme was announced at a press conference held at Rom 8 Studio and officiated by Yang Berusaha Encik Mohd Akbal Setia, Senior Director of Advertising and Digital, Tourism Malaysia, and Head of Secretariat for Visit Malaysia Year 2026. Under its first phase, eHailing Heroes will support up to 3,000 e-hailing vehicles, beginning with drivers in the Klang Valley, through subsidised Castrol MAGNATEC servicing, vehicle branding and access to Castrol Auto Service workshops nationwide.
Participating drivers who complete 8,000 kilometres of verified mileage will be eligible for an RM80 Castrol MAGNATEC service package e-voucher, which includes engine oil, an oil filter and labour, redeemable at participating Castrol Auto Service workshops. The initiative comes as Malaysia strengthens its wider tourism ecosystem ahead of VM2026, recognising the important role e-hailing drivers play in shaping visitors’ experiences by connecting travellers with airports, hotels, city centres, food destinations, shopping districts, heritage areas and local communities.
According to Yang Berusaha Encik Mohd Akbal Setia, e-hailing drivers are among the people who help introduce visitors to Malaysia’s destinations, culture and hospitality. He highlighted that comfortable, safe and friendly journeys can influence how visitors perceive the country, while supporting drivers’ welfare and capabilities forms part of Malaysia’s preparations for VM2026.
For Castrol, eHailing Heroes also represents a practical approach to supporting the livelihoods of drivers whose vehicles are essential to their daily income. E-hailing vehicles often operate for extended hours and accumulate high mileage while navigating traffic congestion, frequent idling, repeated short trips and stop-start driving conditions. Consistent vehicle maintenance is therefore an important consideration for drivers seeking to keep their vehicles road-ready and manage operating costs.
Castrol MAGNATEC was selected for the programme as it is designed for modern urban driving conditions, where engines frequently stop, idle and restart. Its intelligent molecules are designed to cling to critical engine parts and form a protective layer, helping provide 50% better protection against warm-up and restart wear*. The technology supports Castrol MAGNATEC’s “Non-Stop Protection From Every Start” proposition, which is particularly relevant to the daily driving patterns experienced by e-hailing drivers.
Gan Wee Kiong, Market Sales Director, Castrol Malaysia, Singapore and Philippines, said the vehicle serves as more than just transportation for e-hailing drivers, describing it as their workplace and an important source of income. Through eHailing Heroes, Castrol aims to combine its engine oil technology and nationwide service network to help drivers manage maintenance pressures, keep their vehicles road-ready and continue serving passengers with greater confidence.
Meanwhile, Ajit Johl, President of 4PAM, noted that passenger confidence is closely linked to safety, reliability, service quality and vehicle condition. As e-hailing becomes an increasingly important part of the wider transport ecosystem for both Malaysians and international visitors, he said driver welfare and vehicle readiness should be considered together, as maintenance support can ultimately contribute to smoother and more dependable passenger journeys.
Beyond the eHailing Heroes programme, Castrol will also extend a 10% discount across its passenger car engine oil range from August 2026, providing additional support for vehicle owners looking to maintain their cars in good condition. Through a combination of subsidised servicing, nationwide workshop access and engine oil technology designed for stop-start driving, Castrol aims to strengthen vehicle readiness while supporting the people who keep Malaysia’s cities, communities and local economies moving.
E-hailing drivers can register for the eHailing Heroes programme through Castrol’s registration platform to secure their participation and access the available servicing and vehicle support benefits.