Permai Package: RM500 one-off payment for tourist guides, taxi and bus drivers - PM

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the assistance would cover 14,000 tourist guides as well as 118,000 drivers of taxis, school buses, rental cars and e-hailing vehicles.

Apart from that, he said excise duty and sales tax exemption for the purpose of transfer, disposal and for private use of taxis provided the vehicle is owned for seven years, has been reduced to five years effective Jan 1 to Dec 31 2021.

He made the announcement when presenting the PERMAI assistance package which was carried live via television and social media platforms.

The granting of the aid to lighten the burden of the groups under the Movement Control Order (MCO) was among 22 initiatives under PERMAI valued at RM15 billion.

Muhyiddin said Syarikat Jaminan Pinjaman Perniagaan will also introduce a Bus and Taxi Hire Purchase Rehabilitation Scheme and under the scheme 50 per cent guarantee on financing from hire purchase and leasing companies will be provided for selected buses such as sightseeing buses and taxis.

“With this, bus and taxi operators can restructure their financing and enjoy a 12-month moratorium and lower monthly repayments. A guarantee of RM1 billion will be provided for this purpose,” he said.

The Prime Minister also announced that the special tax relief of up to RM2,500 on the purchase of mobile phones. computers and tablets which expired on Dec 31 2020 will be extended for another year until the end of 2021.

Attention was also given to student welfare in which according to Muhyiddin, the special internet subscription package provided for students of Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) earlier would be expanded to students of higher education institutions until the end of April this year.

Meanwhile, he said the provision of free 1 Gigabit data to the public valued at RM500 million starting Jan 1 2021 would be extended until the end of April and the government hoped both efforts of the telecommunications industry would relieve the burden of consumers.

Apart from that, borrowers of the National Higher Fund Corporation (PTPTN) who were affected by COVID-19 pandemic and floods, could apply for repayment moratorium for three months up to March 31, Muhyiddin added.

In another development, the Prime Minister said the government also agreed to extend the effective period of inability to perform contractual obligations to March 31, considering the current situation and in line with the MCO announcement.

This covered hire purchase agreements or leasing contracts and credit sales contracts to benefit affected groups such as the B40, M40 as well as micro enterprises who are unable to meet their contractual obligations, he said.