Malaysia announces RM1,000 aid for school bus and taxi drivers
The one-off Budget 2027 payment covers 38,000 taxi drivers, including rental-car operators, and 15,000 school bus drivers nationwide.
Malaysia is providing a one-off payment of RM1,000 to taxi and school bus drivers under Budget 2027, using revenue from sales of special ‘H’ series vehicle registration numbers. The assistance covers 38,000 taxi drivers, including rental-car operators, and 15,000 drivers of school buses nationwide.
Dr M. Muruga, president of the Malaysian School Bus Operators and Drivers Association, told Bernama that the payment would help drivers cope with lower fare collections during school holidays. He described it as government recognition for a group that had long sought targeted support.
Muruga, who also chairs the Johor state association, said the nationwide membership exceeded 3,000 registered drivers, with women accounting for 60 per cent. He encouraged unregistered drivers to join their state associations to receive information about assistance programmes.
Mohd Suhaimi Saidi, who chairs a coalition of three cross-border taxi associations serving Johor Bahru and Singapore, said the grant would help with vehicle upkeep and everyday expenses. He said taxi drivers faced competition from e-hailing services and noted that the assistance was arriving ahead of Deepavali. His association has 189 members.
