{
  "id": 15150534,
  "title": "Taxi drivers thank government, say RM1,000 aid eases burden",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/taxi-drivers-thank-government-say-rm1-000-aid-eases-burden",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-17T07:20:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/regional/2026/10/1557467/taxi-drivers-thank-government-say-rm1000-aid-eases-burden"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Taxi drivers in George Town have expressed gratitude to the government for a one-time RM1,000 cash aid, stating it will help alleviate the financial burden of vehicle upkeep, daily expenditures, and family necessities. For experienced drivers, the monetary assistance offers significant relief as operating costs increase and tourist numbers dwindle.\n\nMohamad Zahir Abd Razak, a 55-year-old taxi driver with over 15 years of experience, emphasized that the aid will facilitate his ability to cover daily expenses, maintain his vehicle, and support his children. He expressed his deep appreciation for the RM1,000 assistance, received during a ceremony in Dewan Sri Pinang, which was the first distribution event held outside Putrajaya. Nearly 700 drivers attended the event.\n\nNur Marina Mohamed Elias, a 50-year-old driver with a 12-year career, intends to utilize the funds to upgrade her vehicle. She highlighted that the reduced number of tourist arrivals has adversely affected her daily earnings, making the additional financial support critical for operators dealing with economic hardships.\n\nTransport Minister Anthony Loke distributed the vouchers to nearly 700 taxi drivers in Penang. The assistance, introduced under the 2027 Budget, will benefit approximately 38,000 taxi and rental car drivers and 15,000 school bus drivers nationwide. Zahir acknowledged that the government has previously offered support to taxi operators and expressed gratitude for the ongoing assistance.\n\nS. Kumaran, a 54-year-old Penang Sentral taxi driver, shared that the funds would aid in supporting his family, including his 12-year-old child. Kumaran noted that the money would be beneficial for family expenses during Deepavali and his child's school year. However, he urged the Transport Ministry to consider providing more affordable taxis to drivers who cannot afford pricier models, stating that budget-friendly options would enable drivers to replace aging vehicles without facing excessive financial strain.",
  "summary": "GEORGE TOWN: Taxi drivers in the state have thanked the government for a one-off RM1,000 cash assistance, saying it will help cover vehicle maintenance, daily expenses, and family needs.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}