KUALA LUMPUR, June 24 (Bernama) -- The Land Public Transport Commission
(SPAD) is expected to propose a new model for the development of taxi industry
to the government soon.
Its chairman, Tan Sri Syed Hamid Albar, said the commission was in the midst
of conducting research to improve the taxi service system in the country.
"We are now looking at the current system and we want to ascertain how many
taxi permits have been issued so far before we can propose the new model to the
Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak)."
Syed Hamid told a press conference after the launch of Teksi Rakyat
1Malaysia (TR1Ma) by the prime minister at Stadium Bukit Jalil, here.
At the launch, Najib said the government was thinking of introducing a new
model for the development of the taxi industry, including a system of issuing
taxi permits to individuals.
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In addition, the prime minister also announced that the government, via the
Ministry of Information Communication and Culture, would provide a fund of more
than RM1 million for the Personal Accident Insurance Protection Scheme to
100,000 taxi drivers throughout the country.
Commenting further, Syed Hamid said taxi drivers who had served the industry
for a long time using taxi company permits would be given priority in the
issuance of taxi permits to individuals.
Apart from that, SPAD''s research would also focus on the suitable financing
scheme for the individuals to purchase a taxi and to obtain the permits, he
said.
Meanwhile, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais
Yatim said the ministry would pay the premium of RM10.60 for each taxi driver
who register in the scheme.
Hence, he also called on taxi drivers who had yet to register as members of
taxi drivers associations to do so as soon as possible to enable the aid and
assistance to be channelled to them.
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Rais said the forms and more information about the scheme could be obtained
by contacting the Malaysian Taxi, Limousine and Rental Car Operators and Drivers
Association (Petekma) at 03-61842680.
Under the scheme, the taxi drivers and their families will, among others,
receive RM10,000 in case of death in accident, RM10,000 for permanent
disabilities and RM500 for accident treatment.
On the role of taxi drivers as the country''s mini ambassadors, Rais said the
ministry, with cooperation from other ministries and agencies, would continue
organising guiding programmes to improve the drivers'' communication skills.
"We will also organise special programmes to inculcate and improve good
values among the taxi drivers in the country," he added.
-- BERNAMA
VMP AKT NHA