Anthony Loke: Over 400 Taxi & Rental Car Drivers Get Immediate RM1,000 Cash Aid Ahead Of Deepavali Celebration

Ahead of Deepavali, over 400 taxi and rental car drivers in Negeri Sembilan have received financial aid from the MADANI Government.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the aid is meant to ease their financial burdens and help them cover their families’ daily expenses and Deepavali preparations.

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RM1,000 financial aid distributed to taxi and rental car drivers  ahead of Deepavali

Loke said the RM1,000 aid may not cover all expenses, but he hopes it can help drivers with their daily needs and vehicle maintenance, according to BERNAMA.

“The RM1,000 may not solve all your problems or fully cover vehicle maintenance costs, but I sincerely hope it can help ease your grocery bills, pay for new tyres or fill up your fuel tank so you can continue going out to earn a living,” he said.

He added that he had previously promised to distribute the aid before Deepavali so recipients could use it for their festive preparations and other upcoming expenses.

For the next phase, the aid will be transferred directly into the bank accounts of other eligible recipients nationwide via electronic fund transfers (EFT).

Loke also said the ministry would continue supporting taxi drivers through its taxi transformation programme to help them stay competitive in the public transport industry.

Over 100 vehicles ordered under taxi transformation programme

Loke said that among the initiatives is a collaboration with Proton to lower the cost of purchasing new vehicles, alongside financing facilities and rebates to ease driver’s financial burdens.

He added that the government would continue releasing special vehicle registration number series, with around two to three series typically offered each year.

However, the ministry has no plans to introduce personalised number plates featuring specific names or words, choosing instead to maintain Malaysia’s existing system of combining letters and numbers.

He explained that the decision was made to preserve the country’s long-standing vehicle registration system, despite the potential for personalised number plates to generate additional revenue for the government.

Separately, more than 100 vehicles have been ordered through the taxi transformation programme, which aims to help drivers earn more through in-car advertising and apps that connect them with passengers.

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Also read: MYDIN Gives Traditional Kolam A Modern Twist With Interactive Rotating Design In Conjunction with Deepavali!