“Earn RM7K as cabbies”: Netizens deride unrealistic income estimate for new Proton taxi drivers

 

“EARN RM7,000 a month as a taxi driver!”

At the launch of the National MADANI Taxi Reform Programme, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim expressed optimism that the initiative could increase drivers’ net income to as much as RM7,000 per month, taking into account savings from maintenance services and vehicle financing arrangements.

The programme features the Proton S70 as the designated taxi model, selected for its suitability in terms of safety, comfort and fuel efficiency.

The approach aligns with the government’s efforts to promote the use of modern, higher-quality taxis to improve public confidence in the service.

To support the programme, the DRB-HICOM Group through EON-Avis together with financial institutions are offering financing options to help taxi drivers transition to new vehicles based on their needs and affordability.

All very well and good then as any initiative to improve public transport is welcome. However, the estimate of how much one could earn as a taxi driver was mocked.

This news of the launch was also shared on Malay-language Utusan Online’s Facebook portal with the post having generated 5.4K Likes, 2.5K comments and 229 shares at time of writing. 

However, commenters were quick to ridicule the suggestion that humble cab drivers could earn as much as RM7,000 a month.

This is considering that the poor cab driver would likely find themselves “trapped behind the wheel 24/7 for a month with only toilet breaks allowed.”

The issue of work-life balance was also highlighted with some curious netizens asking to share the formula that would allow such wages. 

It was also highlighted that many taxi drivers barely made enough to survive as they had to rent the vehicles. This led to many cab drivers switching to Grab as they did not need to buy or rent a dedicated taxi.

“Talk is cheap.” Quite a few ridiculed PMX for bandying about a figure that was too high to be believed. Did he have first-hand experience as a cab driver they queried.

One observer claimed that many retirees had tried earning a side income as taxi drivers and could only make a gross income of RM4,000.

That only after being confined in a car seat for 14 hours. After subtracting expenses, the net taking was only about RM2,000K.

To hit that RM7,000 target, it was surmised that the cab driver would have to go without sleep.

There was also a feeling that this formula was the brainchild of those who have never had to toil for a living.

Needless to say, those with an anti-Madani slant just saw it as more “empty promises” from PMX. “Don’t vote for them” was the clarion call here.

Some commenters were of the opinion that this news was mere propaganda, similar to the now debunked rumour that Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, wife of disgraced ex-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, had shares in Grab Malaysia.

It was argued that this “misinformation” was then used to sway taxi drivers into throwing their support behind PH.

Of course, any initiative to improve the welfare of taxi drivers is to be applauded. They, like many other blue-collar workers, are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.

But as can be seen from the many comments, the dubious RM7,000 projected earnings have been met with some degree of scepticism. The sentiment is one of don’t believe the hype. – Focus Malaysia