Madani Taxi Reform Aims to Raise Drivers’ Monthly Earnings to RM7,000, Says Anwar
KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Malaysia’s National Madani Taxi Renewal Programme is expected to improve the livelihoods of taxi drivers by increasing their monthly earnings to between RM5,000 and RM7,000 through a package of financial assistance and industry reforms, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Launching the programme at Dataran Merdeka today, Anwar said the initiative is designed to strengthen the taxi industry by reducing operating costs while introducing structural reforms intended to improve long-term income prospects for drivers.
Among the measures announced are easier access to financing, the introduction of new Proton S70 taxis and a policy that will allow taxi permits to be permanently registered under the names of individual drivers.
Anwar described the permit reform as one of the government’s most significant policy decisions for the taxi industry.
Under the new approach, taxi permits issued to drivers will remain under their ownership permanently and cannot be transferred, a move he said is intended to safeguard the welfare and long-term security of taxi drivers and their families.
He said the government recognises that many taxi drivers continue to face income uncertainty, with earnings fluctuating considerably depending on seasonal demand and operating conditions.
According to the Prime Minister, some drivers earn as little as RM2,500 to RM3,000 per month during slower periods, while the average monthly income across the industry is estimated at around RM4,000.
He noted that earning RM5,000 a month has remained difficult for many drivers under the existing operating model.
To address those challenges, Anwar said he had held discussions with Transport Minister Anthony Loke on developing a new framework that focuses not only on replacing vehicles but also on lowering the overall cost of doing business.
The proposed reforms include measures to reduce expenses related to vehicle maintenance, servicing, repairs, operational costs and financing commitments.
By lowering these recurring expenditures, the government believes taxi drivers will be able to retain a larger share of their earnings without relying solely on higher passenger volumes.
Anwar said projections under the new programme indicate that drivers’ monthly incomes could increase to between RM5,000 and RM7,000 once the planned initiatives are fully implemented.
He said such an improvement would provide drivers with greater financial stability and enable them to enjoy a more comfortable standard of living.
The National Madani Taxi Renewal Programme forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernise Malaysia’s taxi industry while enhancing the economic well-being of drivers through targeted policy reforms rather than relying solely on fare adjustments.
Besides introducing newer vehicles and expanding financing options, the programme also seeks to strengthen ownership rights for drivers by ensuring taxi permits remain directly under their names, a measure the government believes will provide lasting benefits for future generations of taxi-driving families.
Anwar said the combination of lower operating costs, improved access to financing and greater ownership security is expected to create a more sustainable operating environment for taxi drivers as the industry adapts to changing transportation demands.
