New rules for commuters

PETALING JAYA: All public transport services are allowed to operate during the lockdown, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).

The Transport Minister added that only one driver and one passenger were allowed in taxis and e-hailing vehicles during this period.

However, one driver and two passengers are permitted for medical reasons with a doctor’s letter, or for vaccination trips and security reasons.

Each taxi and e-hailing vehicle is restricted to two persons (one driver and one passenger), including for larger vehicles such as 4WDs (four-wheel drives) and vans.

“However, in the event of a medical need such as hospital visit with a doctor’s letter or a vaccination appointment as validated with MySejahtera, or for security reasons, up to three persons including the driver are allowed at one time.

“Please refer to the latest standard operating procedure (SOP) by the National Security Council (NSC),” Dr Wee said in a statement on Saturday.

He also said that all public transport services must operate in compliance with the NSC’s SOP.

Taxi drivers must obtain their approval letters from the ministry’s Logistics Industry Information System (SMILE) at https://application.mot.gov.my.

E-Hailing drivers may use the approval letters as issued by the Transport Ministry to their e-hailing operators.

Public transport users must obtain the necessary interstate and inter-district travel permissions from the police as required by the NSC SOP.

All approval letters obtained from SMILE dated before June 1 can be downloaded from the system and website without needing to re-register, said Dr Wee.

“As always, the ministry strongly urges all Malaysians using public transport and those in the workplace to practise self-compliance with regards to the SOP at all stations and terminals including using hand sanitisers, wearing face masks, maintaining physical distancing wherever required, and checking in with the MySejahtera QR codes where required,” he added.