RM35 mil windfall for taxi drivers

Under the TR1Ma programme, the first driver of each taxi would receive a tyre subsidy voucher of RM520 to replace four tyres for a period of two years.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak today announced an incentive of almost RM35 million for taxi drivers in the country under the Teksi Rakyat 1Malaysia (TR1Ma) (1Malaysia People’s Taxi) programme.

The prime minister said that under the TR1Ma programme, the first driver of each taxi would receive a tyre subsidy voucher of RM520 to replace four tyres for a period of two years.

“The subsidy of RM34.84 million channelled by 1Malaysia Development Berhad will benefit 67,000 taxi drivers nationwide,” he said when launching TR1Ma in the presence of 25,000 taxi drivers at Stadium Bukit Jalil, here.

Najib said the types of taxis that were eligible to receive the subsidy were budget taxis, executive taxis, hire cars and airport taxis.

In addition, he also announced that the government, via the Ministry of Information Communication and Culture, would provide a fund of more than RM1 million for the Personal Accident Insurance Protection Scheme to 100,000 taxi drivers throughout the country.

The prime minister said this was a short-term initiative of the government to ease the burden of taxi drivers in the country.

- Bernama