One-off RM500 payment to tour guides, taxi, school bus, e-hailing drivers

Muhyiddin announcing the Permai Assistance Package during a special address in Putrajaya today (Jan 18, 2021). Screenshot taken from Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) live broadcast.

By Adrian Lim

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 18: The federal government will provide a one-off RM500 assistance to tour guides, taxi, school bus, rented car and e-hailing drivers to reduce their financial burden as a result of the Movement Control Order (MCO) 2.0 implemented recently.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said an additional RM66 million has been allocated under a new economic stimulus package known as the Perlindungan Ekonomi dan Rakyat Malaysia (Permai) Assistance Package.

He said the financial assistance is expected to benefit 14,000 tour guides and 118,000 taxi drivers, school bus drivers, rented car and e-hailing drivers.

“To alleviate the burden faced by taxi and bus drivers, the government has agreed to provide a one-off financial assistance of RM500 to 14,000 tourist guides as well as 118,000 drivers of taxis, school buses, tour buses, rental cars and e-hailing vehicles with an additional allocation of RM66 million,” he said during a special address on the new economic package at Putrajaya today.

Muhyiddin said the Permai Assistance Package valued at RM15 billion has 22 initiatives.

It will be implemented based on three main objectives namely combating the Covid-19 outbreak, safeguarding the welfare of the people and supporting the business continuity.

Muhyiddin added the one-off provision of RM500 to healthcare frontliners and RM300 to other frontliners announced during Budget 2021 last year will be paid in the first quarter of this year.

He disclosed that the existing special monthly allowance of RM600 to healthcare frontliners and RM200 to other frontliners will be paid until the Covid-19 pandemic in Malaysia is over. —DayakDaily