Cabbies get private permits and cheaper Exora

PUTRAJAYA: Taxi drivers who receive new individual permits can look forward to having their own vehicles under a special rebate scheme by the Government for a new purpose-built Proton Exora.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said this was part of the Government's move to make good on its promise to issue 1,000 individual licences to taxi drivers, besides encouraging the development of a more efficient public transportation system.

“For every taxi driver given an individual licence, I think we should make it compulsory for them to buy an Exora through Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia, which will give a RM5,000 grant for each new taxi.

“This means the price for a new Exora will go down from RM64,000 to RM59,000,” he said to cheers from some 6,000 taxi drivers present at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre to witness the presentation of the first batch of 200 individual licences to new driver-owners.

Najib said the scheme would not only include a new car that is factory outfitted with an NGV tank, but also comprehensive insurance coverage to provide taxi drivers with better protection.