Taxi drivers welcome new govt scheme

A promise fulfilled. That is the sentiment echoed by taxi drivers nationwide as they received individual taxi licences from the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today.

A total of 200 out of 1000 individual licences were given out by the prime minister, who also announced more incentives that had been lined up for the drivers.

For 47 year-old Tan Song Nam from Perak, the nation's number one leader is a man who had given it his all for his people, and was one of a kind.

"I respect him for his work, he is different from all the others. It is not easy to listen to everyone's grouses and complaints, but he had done so and had fulfilled the many requests made by the people no matter how varied they are," he said.

For Marina Elias, 37, Najib had delivered all they had asked for and more.

"The promise has been fulfilled by the government and we are truly grateful for all that had been done," she said.

With the licences, the drivers can now earn independently without having to rent the taxis from the companies.

The 1000 drivers were applicants before the issuance of the licences was frozen in 2011.

The next 800 applicants to receive the licences will be chosen by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in the coming months.

For B. Sukumar, 51, the licence would help them increase their earnings and provide for their families.

"I had to pay rental that can go up as high as RM1500 every month to the companies. Now I can use the extra money for my family," he said.

The prime minister had also announced that a RM5,000 grant will be given to the 1000 drivers to buy the new Proton Exora as their main vehicle. The grant will be given out by the Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia under the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

SPAD chairman Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar said the drivers would get better insurance through the new cars, that are factory fitted and suited especially for them.

"The drivers are chosen based on their good track record, and this would help them especially as it has lower monthly installments, a more comprehensive insurance coverage, and with better technology.

"For those who already have the licences, they may trade in their old cars at Proton, and they may also get a RM3000 rebate off the new Exora from Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN)," he said adding that the drivers would have to pay the 10 percent downpayment at a two percent interest rate at BSN for the car loan.

The second round of the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (TR1Ma) or TR1Ma 2.0 will also be given out, and the drivers would receive an aid in the sum of RM520 to change the tires of their vehicles.

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