Hiew Su Vun
SANDAKAN: Like many in the public transport sector nationwide, taxi drivers in Sabah have been adversely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic and they are thankful to the government for providing financial assistance to help lessen their burden.
“We appreciate the aid given to us by the government to help us in this difficult times,” Persatuan Teksi Seluruh Sabah chairman Hiew Su Vun said after cabbies in the State received the RM1,000 one-off assistance under the Geran Khas Prihatin (GKP).
Hiew also thanked the Sabah Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) and its chairman Dato’ Chin Kim Hiung for helping the public transport sector obtaining the government aid.
Sabah CVLB chairman Dato’ Chin Kim Hiung said 1,910 taxi and car rental drivers, and 2,919 e-hailing drivers received GKP assistance while 400 school bus and 411 sightseeing bus drivers received assistance under the Permai Aid Package in Sabah.
“We hope the government assistance extended to the public transport can help ease the burden of those whose livelihood has been affected by the pandemic,” Chin said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had on May 31 announced the government would allocate a total of RM68 million to reduce the burden of taxi drivers, rental car users and school bus drivers nationwide during the Movement Control Order (MCO).
Muhyiddin said that the special assistance includes a one-off amount of RM500 that will be given to 40,000 taxi drivers, 17,000 tourist drivers, 11,000 school bus drivers, 4,000 sightseeing buses and 62,000 rental and e-hailing car drivers which will be channelled to registered recipients next month.