174 taxi drivers receive individual taxi permits

KUALA LUMPUR: Transport Minister Anthony Loke today handed over letters of approval for individual taxi permits to 174 taxi drivers and a RM5,000 cash grant to subsidise the purchase of a new car to 47 of them.
He said the granting of the taxi permits to the taxi drivers whose vehicle lease had expired would help increase their income and encourage them to better serve customers.
"This initiative is aimed at improving the standard of living and income of the taxi drivers, who always are a priority of the government," he said at the function.
So far, 2,729 individual taxi permits have been handed over to taxi drivers whose vehicle lease had expired while 721 eligible taxi drivers received the RM5,000 grant.
Loke assured the estimated 14,000 taxi drivers who had leased vehicles that the contract between the taxi drivers and the operator companies would be improved.
He said the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) under the Transport Ministry would improve and streamline the contracts besides ensuring compliance with the licensing conditions.
Some of the conditions being considered were providing a lease-free day during Puspakom inspection; medical and annual leave; first-party insurance and the return of deposit at the end of the contract period," he said. — Bernama