‘Lega sementara’, persatuan kata RM1,000 tak cukup selamatkan industri teksi, bas sekolah

The temporary RM1,000 assistance only provides short-term relief to taxi, hire car, and school bus drivers, with industry representatives urging long-term solutions to address operating costs and declining numbers of entrepreneurs. The president of Malaysia Taxis Association, Kamarudin Hussain, said the aid falls short of rising operating costs and living expenses, including the RM1,350 monthly taxi lease, RM1,500 fuel, and RM200 to RM300 maintenance.

He also urged the government to adjust e-booking commission rates, which he believes are too low and are creating unhealthy competition and lowering taxi drivers' earnings. Earlier, Transportation Minister Loke Siew Fook stated the special assistance is one-time and dependent on the government's additional earnings, which may continue in the future.

The aid targets 38,000 taxi and hire car drivers and 15,000 school bus drivers. Meanwhile, the president of the Malaysian School Bus Association, Amali Munif Rahmat, said the industry needs modernization to attract a younger generation and help entrepreneurs replace old vehicles. He noted the number of school bus learners has dropped from around 14,000 in January 2019 to 10,744 in January 2026.

"New learner permits have not been able to keep up with the number of entrepreneurs leaving the industry, including those who are elderly and unable to continue operations. "Financial constraints also burden entrepreneurs in replacing old vehicles, especially when they still have car loan balances and cannot obtain new financing," he said.

Amali suggested the government provide easy loans through a registration and modernization program for school bus entrepreneurs to enable them to switch to registered buses and continue the business for the next generation.