KUCHING: Taxis lined up outside Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) headquarters while their drivers went inside to apply for the 1Malaysia People’s Taxi (TR1Ma) scheme yesterday.
The party prepared 540 application forms and counters were set up by its Youth wing to help applicants fill the forms.
The completed forms will be sent to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) in Kuala Lumpur for processing.
The counters were set up from 8am to 5pm yesterday in response to grouses voiced by taxi associations.
The TR1Ma scheme recently announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was to enable taxi drivers throughout the country to be given vouchers worth RM520 to replace the four tyres of each of their taxis.
SUPP Kota Sentosa branch secretary Lo Khere Chiang, who saw the proceedings yesterday, said the TR1Ma was a testament to the federal government’s commitment to assist all strata of society.
He said it showed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was serious about realising the 1Malaysia concept through various transformation programmes.
“Although this involved disbursement of vouchers, this kind of assistance means a lot to the taxi drivers. We should appreciate the efforts of the prime minister in creating policies that take care of the people’s interest,” said Lo, who is also Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) chairman.
SUPP Youth chief Tan Kai said it was a move by the government to assist taxi drivers, considering the role they play in society. Taxi drivers, for instance, could be considered frontliners in the tourism industry as they give tourists information on tourism attractions and on the state.
Sarawak Taxi Owner Association president Tay Teck Ming, who spoke on their behalf, said they appreciated SUPP Youth’s efforts to assist them.