THE Government is planning to issue more taxi permits to qualified individuals in a bid to transform and improve the taxi service industry, the Dewan Rakyat was told.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) is currently preparing a guideline to allow more permits for individuals which will be announced at a later date, said Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Ahmad Maslan in reply to a question by Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee (BN-Setiu) during Question Time.

Mohd Jidin had asked the Government to state whether it intended to abolish permits for the taxi leasing system that was allegedly monopolised by certain companies.

Ahmad said the Government has no plans to abolish permits for the taxi leasing system.

“We cannot simply take back something that we legally provide,” he said.

However, added Ahmad, the Government was looking at changing to a new model such as asking the taxi companies to reduce the daily rental charges as well as increasing hospital coverage and health insurance.

He added that there were currently 79,571 taxi drivers and 1,303 companies that had been awarded taxi permits.

The companies owned 31,978 or 48% of the permits while 35,450 or 52% were owned by individuals, he said.

SPAD was also currently looking at introducing a new business model that will protect the welfare of taxi drivers, said Ahmad.

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