KUALA TERENGGANU: Criticised for not supporting the national car, the state government has announced special packages for taxi drivers to buy new Proton cars to replace ageing Nissans and Toyotas.
The package in the form of monetary aid is for legitimate taxi drivers and those refurbishing their Proton taxis.
State Rural Development, Entrepreneur and Cooperative Committee chairman Datuk Mohamed Awang Tera said all taxi drivers in the state were eligible to apply for the special package, a type of subsidy.
Under the package, each taxi driver would be given RM10,000 to buy a new Proton Saga or Wira to be used as taxis.
He said the sum would be about 40% of the car price as Proton was already giving discounts to taxi drivers.
“This is part of our efforts to invigorate the image of taxi drivers who have been using old vehicles,” he told The Star here yesterday.
He added that the state government would reimburse up to RM4,000 to refurbish a Proton taxi.
About 30% of drivers have converted to Proton but many are still using Nissan and Toyota that were manufactured in the 1980s.
Mohamed said the image of Terengganu taxis would be standardised.
“Taxi drivers who have not repainted their vehicles can apply,” he said.
He revealed that the state government was in the final stage of constructing a Mini F1 circuit in Mak Lagam at Chukai, Kemaman, located close to Kuantan airport and accessible via the East Coast Expressway.
“We are waiting for the nod from the state government and will discuss this matter in the next executive council meeting,” he said.
The circuit would host car and motorcycle racing competitions.
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