Grab should get a grip on optics

It may have its reasons for recent corporate decisions, but the way these have been presented has dented its public image

Grab reported a loss of US$3.6 billion for 2021, up from US$2.7 billion in 2020. It aims to break even by the second half of 2024. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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SINGAPORE - South-east Asian app giant Grab has been in the news of late, largely for the wrong reasons.

Its decision to pass on the one percentage point rise in goods and services tax (GST) to its platform drivers in December received backlash, with observers pointing out that such drivers are, in fact, Grab’s customers. They are also not GST-registered, which means they cannot charge GST or make claims for GST costs.

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