Info Ministry To Prepare List Of Taxi Drivers To Help Secure Insurance Coverage

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah, Malaysia), March 31 (Bernama) -- The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry is to come up soon with a list of bona fide taxi drivers nationwide to help secure insurance coverage for those who do not have it, Minister Dr Rais Yatim said Saturday. "I see that some of our taxi drivers do not have insurance coverage. As such, we have to come up with this list of bona fide taxi drivers so that they can obtain medical assistance or compensation in the event of injury in an accident," he said. Dr Rais said the list would be submitted to the relevant authorities or the Cabinet for a decision. He was speaking at the launch of a 1Malaysia appreciation programme attended by about 250 members of the Sabah and Labuan zone of the Taxi, Limousine and Hire Car Drivers and Operators Association of Malaysia (Petekma), here. Also present were the ministry's secretary-general, Kamaruddin Siaraf, Sabah federal secretary Khazali Ahmad and Information Department director-general Ibrahim Abdul Rahman. Dr Rais said that once the matter of the insurance coverage has been settled, he would inform members of Petekma and other taxi associations the form of assistance to be provided. At the event, he also announced a RM20,000 (US$6,531) aid to cover the administrative costs of the Sabah branch of Petekma. "This is the beginning of much more government aid for taxi drivers in Sabah," he said. Dr Rais said the federal government under the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak always gave preference to the interests of taxi drivers and provided various incentives for their benefit. He asked taxi drivers in the state to continue to support the existing government so as to ensure continuity in the development of public transportation. -- BERNAMA