Transport Minister Anthony Loke announced today that Road Transport Department regulations will be amended to allow disabled persons to continue working as e-hailing drivers.

Loke admitted that existing regulations prohibit these individuals from obtaining public service vehicle (PSV) licences, which will be a compulsory requirement for e-hailing drivers come July.

Speaking to reporters today, the minister pledged to resolve the matter soon.

"I have my commitment to the disabled community, as well as e-hailing companies, that we will amend the regulation to allow disabled (e-hailing) drivers to continue their services," he said.

"We support their right to be e-hailing drivers so they can work on their own and gain an income, so there will be no issue in term of not allowing them to work."

A recent China Press report highlighted the troubles faced by a 30-year-old disabled driver in obtaining a PSV licence from the RTD.

"This is contradictory to the government's policy of encouraging those from the disabled community to work, and it is not fair to disabled drivers," the driver was quoted as saying.

On March 28, RTD took to social media to say that disabled persons with Class A and A1 licences cannot apply for PSV licences to ensure public road safety.

Travel discount card

Loke was with Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah at KL Sentral to launch Xtra20, a 20 percent discount card for local commuters, which will be made available tomorrow.

The transport minister said that the government, via the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC), allocated RM34 million to fund the initiative, which is aimed at reducing living costs.

The initiative, he added, is expected to see ridership boosted by 20 percent to 108,000 commuters per day by year-end, and 130,000 commuters per day by next year.

The first 40,000 Xtra20 cards will be distributed to local passengers without charge. Subsequent cards will be priced at RM3.

The discounts will benefit commuters on four routes – namely Batu Caves-Tampin, Tanjung Malim-Pelabuhan Kelang, Padang Besar-Butterworth, and Padang Rengas-Bukit Mertajam. 

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