Reducing the burden of the B40

PETALING JAYA: The 50% subsidy for the lower income group to buy child car seats is vital towards reducing road fatalities, said the Transport Ministry.

Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the incentive announced in Budget 2022 shows the government’s concern towards safety on the roads for children.

“In 2019, 19% of road accidents in the country involved children. Of this total, some 1,276 cases ended in fatalities.

“Due to this, RM30mil has been allocated in Budget 2022 to allow 188,000 recipients from the B40 group to enjoy a 50% rebate or up to RM150 incentive to buy child restraint systems (CRS).

“This rebate will definitely ease the burden of the B40 group to buy CRS and, at the same time, ensure the safety of children,” said Dr Wee in a response to the Budget 2022 presentation.

Dr Wee said the Transport Ministry has been allocated RM5.58bil in Budget 2022, of which RM1.527bil is for the ministry’s operating expenditure and RM4.053bil for development costs.

The continuation of the MyRail5 initiative, in which students and the disabled can enjoy unlimited rides on KTM trains for RM5 a month, has been praised by Dr Wee.

“This initiative will help reduce the burden of students and the disabled affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, this will encourage more people to use public transport,” said Dr Wee, who added that the allocation of RM115mil to implement the RM50 unlimited train and bus pass initiative, as well as RM80mil for the Stage Bus Assistance Fund, shows the government’s commitment to public transport.

On the road tax exemption for energy efficient vehicles (EEV), Dr Wee said the move is in line with the National Transport Policy, which supports the green vehicle initiative.

Dr Wee also welcomed the RM209mil subsidy for rural air services in Sabah and Sarawak, which he said will benefit those living in the interiors.

“This subsidy is part of the government’s commitment to help those living in rural Sabah and Sarawak to connect to urban areas, as air transport is their main mode of travel,” said Dr Wee.

He also said the addition of 20 new mobile counters and 100 computer kiosks for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) will improve the department’s counter services.

“The ministry has been allocated 100 kiosks complete with computer facilities for its Urban Transformation Centre services.

“Besides providing counter services after hours, these new facilities will also help improve JPJ’s online services,” said Dr Wee.