Budget 2026: Taxi Drivers Grateful For Government's Concern

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Taxi Coalition (GTM) has expressed its appreciation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and the MADANI government for continuing to pay attention to the welfare of taxi drivers under Budget 2026.

Its president, Kamarudin Hussain, said they appreciated the government's commitment to allocating RM10 million to cover the training fees and allowances for courses to enhance the quality of services of taxi drivers.

He added that the training allocation was one of the proposals it had presented to the government last year in a bid to lift the image and quality of the country's taxi industry.

"This was something we presented to the Prime Minister last year… about a new image that will give a better impression within our country, in addition to replacing ageing and outdated vehicles (taxis).

"One of the items in the proposal we presented for taxi rebranding was for courses to enhance the quality of drivers, including how to treat customers and how they communicate with them,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He added that although the rebranding of taxi services has yet to be comprehensively realised, the Prime Minister's announcement today shows that the government's efforts are geared towards making it a reality.

Anwar, when tabling Budget 2026 in Parliament today, also announced that the government will maintain a 100 per cent excise duty exemption and 100 per cent sales tax exemption on the purchase of new national cars - Proton and Perodua - for eligible taxi owners and private hire vehicle drivers.

-- BERNAMA