RM500 one-off payment for tourist guides, taxi, bus drivers

KUALA LUMPUR: Tourist guides, as well as taxi and bus drivers will be receiving a one-off financial assistance of RM500 involving an allocation of RM66 million under the PERMAI assistance package.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the assistance would cover 14,000 tourist guides as well as 118,000 drivers of taxis, school buses, rental cars and e-hailing vehicles.

Apart from that, he said excise duty and sales tax exemption for the purpose of transfer, disposal and for private use of taxis provided the vehicle is owned for seven years, has been reduced to five years effective Jan 1 to Dec 31 2021.

He made the announcement when presenting the PERMAI assistance package which was carried live via television and social media platforms.

The granting of the aid to lighten the burden of the groups under the Movement Control Order (MCO) was among 22 initiatives under PERMAI valued at RM15 billion.

Muhyiddin said Syarikat Jaminan Pinjaman Perniagaan will also introduce a Bus and Taxi Hire Purchase Rehabilitation Scheme and under the scheme 50 per cent guarantee on financing from hire purchase and leasing companies will be provided for selected buses such as sightseeing buses and taxis.

“With this, bus and taxi operators can restructure their financing and enjoy a 12-month moratorium and lower monthly repayments. A guarantee of RM1 billion will be provided for this purpose,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced that the special tax relief of up to RM2,500 on the purchase of mobile phones. computers and tablets which expired on Dec 31 2020 will be extended for another year until the end of 2021.

Attention was also given to student welfare in which according to Muhyiddin, the special internet subscription package provided for students of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) earlier would be expanded to students of higher education institutions until the end of April this year.