The government will be disbursing a one-off RM500 financial aid for drivers of taxis, school buses, sightseeing buses, rental and e-hailing vehicles starting today, Bernama reports.
The financial assistance, which comes under the Malaysian Economic and Rakyat’s Protection Assistance Package (PERMAI), will involve about 110,000 people, with a total allocation of RM55 million. The one-time financial aid was first announced by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on January 18.
“Some 20,000 taxi and rental car drivers have received the assistance which has been credited into the accounts of the drivers involved, while the remaining 15,000 will receive the assistance in stages by March 15, 2021,” said Finance Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in a statement last night.
Meanwhile, the remaining 75,000 recipients including drivers of e-hailing vehicles, school and sightseeing buses will receive their financial aid disbursements in stages from Feb 26.
The financial aid will hopefully help tide the target group over the Movement Control Order (MCO) period, while the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK) is being implemented, says Tengku Zafrul. “PICK certainly represents the starting point for the recovery of the tourism sector and other sectors that have been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.”
This is the second of such financial aid distribution to the specific target group, as their source of income has been severely affected due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Last year, approximately 120,000 drivers received financial aid from a total allotment of RM66 million.
For individuals involved, you can check the status of your funds disbursement via the Land Public Transport Agency’s (APAD) website, here.
