Grab is a multinational technology company, often referred to as a "superapp," which originated in Malaysia and has grown to become a dominant platform across the Southeast Asian region.
1. Grab History
Founding (2012): The company was co-founded by Anthony Tan and Tan Hooi Ling, both Malaysian-born, while they were at Harvard Business School. It was initially launched in Malaysia as MyTeksi, with the mission to make taxi rides safer.
Expansion and Rebrand: The company quickly expanded across the region, including the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Indonesia. By 2016, it was rebranded as Grab to reflect its expansion beyond just taxi services into a multi-service platform.
Regional Dominance: Grab became Southeast Asia's first "decacorn" (a private company valued at over $10 billion) and solidified its position as the region's biggest technology startup.
Public Listing (2021): Grab became publicly traded on the NASDAQ stock exchange in the United States after completing the largest Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) merger at the time.
2. App and Services
The Grab platform operates as a "superapp," integrating a wide array of services into a single mobile application, categorized mainly into Deliveries, Mobility, and Financial Services.
| Category | Key Services | Description |
| Mobility | Rides/Transport | E-hailing services (JustGrab, GrabCar, GrabTaxi, etc.) to get users from point A to B. |
| Deliveries | GrabFood | On-demand food delivery from restaurants and eateries. |
| GrabMart | On-demand delivery of groceries, convenience store items, and other retail goods. | |
| GrabExpress | Courier service for sending packages and documents quickly. | |
| Financial Services | GrabPay | E-wallet and cashless payment system for online and in-store transactions. |
| PayLater | Feature allowing users to pay for services in instalments or defer payment. | |
| GXBank | A digital bank in Malaysia (joint venture with Singtel) aimed at driving financial inclusion. | |
| Other Services | GrabRewards | Loyalty program that offers points and benefits for using Grab services. |
| GrabAds | Advertising solutions for businesses on the platform. |
3. Recent News with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim
Grab, due to its size and influence in the Malaysian gig economy, maintains a significant relationship with the Malaysian government. The most recent news highlights direct engagement between Grab's leadership and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim:
Meeting on High-Income Jobs and Subsidies (October 2025)
Courtesy Call: In early October 2025, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim received a courtesy call from Grab co-founder and CEO Anthony Tan and his delegation.
Key Discussions:
High-Income Jobs & AI: The Prime Minister emphasized that multinational firms like Grab are crucial in creating high-income jobs and supporting capacity development related to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the country.
Targeted Fuel Subsidy (BUDI95): A critical issue discussed was the implementation of the targeted petrol subsidy through the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) initiative. The discussion aimed to ensure the program directly benefits e-hailing drivers, helping to reduce their daily operating costs.
Welfare of Partners: Anwar welcomed Grab's commitment to ensuring the welfare of its drivers and riders.
Investment Plan Briefing (February 2024)
The Prime Minister had previously met with Anthony Tan in February 2024. During that meeting, Tan briefed him on Grab's potential investments in Malaysia, which included:
Businesses like Grab and Jaya Grocer.
The operation of GX Bank (Malaysia's digital bank), which was expected to involve an investment of RM1.5 billion over five years.
These engagements highlight the government's recognition of Grab's role as a major economic player and a platform for gig economy workers, ensuring government policies like the fuel subsidy are effectively applied to this sector.
