Now driving schools also seek MCO exemption

 

The operators of 233 driving institutes nationwide have appealed to the government to allow them to resume operations since permission had been granted to several economic sectors to do so yesterday.

Malaysian Association of Driving Institutes (Pima) President Mat Aris Bakar said the long-term closure of driving institutes would result in greater unemployment as their workers would have to be laid off and their businesses also risk collapse.

"An estimated 20,000 workers who are completely dependent on the industry will lose their jobs if the driving institutes still cannot operate. The government needs to review the economic implications and consider allowing driving institutes to resume operations," he told Bernama today.

Aris said the closure of driving institutes also hampered the reskilling of individuals who applied for vehicle licences to earn income through e-hailing services.

Riders for delivery services and couriers, he said, are in high demand during the MCO.

He said the association sent a letter to the National Security Council in January, proposing that driving institutes be allowed to resume their operations.

A driving instructor at the Kajang/Bangi Branch Driving Training Centre, Yusrizam Yusof, 39, said he had to find other jobs because his income at the driving centre depended on the number of students.

“There is no basic salary. Last year I only worked for seven months because of the MCO, and now the centre is closed again,” he said.

“There are now many people (students) waiting to sit for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) test, talks, and training.

“There had been no clusters involving driving training centres so far, so the government should consider allowing the driving institutes to operate,” said Yusrizam, who has been a driving instructor for seven years.

- Bernama