PUTRAJAYA – Applications for the one-off financial assistance of RM500 for taxi and bus drivers, provided under the Malaysian Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package (PERMAI) can be made through the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD).
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said in a statement that further information about the aid will be provided by the agency soon.
“As of now, about 600 eligible applicants have yet to register with APAD and this can delay the distribution of the aid,” he said.
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin yesterday announced the RM15 billion PERMAI assistance package, with 22 initiatives.
They include the one-off financial assistance involving an allocation of RM66 million that will benefit 14,000 tourist guides as well as 118,000 drivers of taxis, school buses, rental cars and e-hailing vehicles.
Apart from that, Muhyiddin said excise duty and sales tax exemption for the purpose of transfer, disposal and for private use of taxis provided the vehicle is owned for seven years, has been reduced to five years from seven years previously.
Syarikat Jaminan Pinjaman Perniagaan will also introduce a Bus and Taxi Hire Purchase Rehabilitation Scheme, which provides a 50% guarantee on financing from hire purchase and leasing companies for selected buses and taxis.
This will allow operators to restructure their financing and enjoy a 12-month moratorium and lower monthly repayments.
Wee said it is hoped that the package would provide relief for transport industry players to weather the Covid-19 pandemic. – Bernama, 19 January, 2021
