THE Penang government, through the state Economic Planning Division, has organised a drive-through aid programme for taxi drivers and e-hailing drivers who had earlier not furnished proper particulars to qualify for the one-off incentives.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow presented the incentives to some 40 drivers at the drive-through aid programme in the compound of Dewan Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Butterworth today.
Another similar exercise will be organised by the state Economic Planning Unit for the island drivers at Komtar (beside Maybank) from 10.30am to 1.30pm tomorrow.
The majority of the drivers had earlier received their respective one-off payments through online from the state government.
Under the state RM75 million economic stimulus aid programme announced by Chow recently, taxi drivers were given RM500 one-off payment while e-hailing drivers were given RM300 one-off payment.
The aid programme by the state government is to help reduce their burden since their income has been curtailed in the ongoing movement control order (MCO).
Chow said out of 2,252 taxi drivers in the state, 2,045 or 90.9% had received their one-off payment via online.
Out of the 8,571 e-hailing drivers, 8,335 or 97.25% had received their payment through electronic transfer too.
In total, the state government has allocated over RM1.1 million for the taxi drivers and RM2.5 million for e-hailing drivers.
“The drive-through aid programme is for the balance of drivers who have not given their proper particulars earlier,” Chow said.
“As long as there is MCO, we all know that our economy will be impacted. It will pose a big challenge to many people, who need income for their livelihood and to support their children’s education.
“It’s time for the Federal Government and everyone in the country to think about the socio-economic recovery after the MCO is withdrawn.
“The priority is people’s health and there won’t be any compromise on this issue to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
“So, we hope to recover as fast as possible though it is very challenging. We need to prepare ourselves.”
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had said that the Federal Government might ease the MCO in phases for several sectors if there was a marked decline in Covid-19 cases.
On April 23, he had announced the MCO’s extension for the third time to May 12.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Alvie Cheng
Video by Law Suun Ting