SEREMBAN: The National Madani Taxi Renewal Programme will receive an additional RM10mil, with the initiative now extended to hire cars as well, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, had agreed to the extra allocation following the programme's successful launch.
"The additional allocation is important in the government's efforts to raise awareness and participation among taxi and hire car operators and drivers in the various initiatives introduced so far," he said in his speech at the programme's outreach session at Wisma City Kingdom here on Thursday (July 16).
Loke said taxi and hire car drivers were being briefed directly on the benefits available, including more driver-friendly financing schemes, opportunities to increase income, social security protection, the permit application process and incentives supporting the industry's modernisation.
The session was the first held outside the Klang Valley since Anwar launched the programme at Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on July 3, giving drivers here a closer look at the Proton S70 chosen as the taxi model under the initiative.
Loke said drivers could choose the financing package that best suited their means, either through hire purchase with lower daily instalments or a leasing package that covers vehicle maintenance costs.
He said Proton, through EON and financial institutions, was providing these options to ease the switch to the new vehicle.
Loke also said taxis would be given priority during periodic inspections at Puspakom and other licensed vehicle inspection centres.
"This move will ease drivers' dealings, speed up the inspection process and at the same time ensure vehicle safety standards continue to be complied with," he said.
He said the transformation of the industry was also about ensuring drivers received more bookings through e-hailing platforms.
"The government has always fostered closer cooperation between the taxi industry and e-hailing platforms.
"We do not see the two as competitors, but as strategic partners that complement each other in providing better services to the people, while helping to increase taxi drivers' income," he said.
Also present were Transport Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Jana Santhiran Muniayan and Proton Holdings Bhd deputy chief executive officer Datuk Ir Abdul Rashid Musa.
Loke said the ministry, the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) and other agencies would continue working closely with stakeholders to ensure the programme's smooth implementation.
