TAMBUNAN: The announcement of a one-off RM1,000 Special Financial Assistance by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has been welcomed with gratitude and relief by public transport operators in Sabah, particularly those serving the interior.
The special initiative, announced in conjunction with the recent Budget presentation, was described as a timely and considerate measure to help ease the daily financial burden faced by the operators.
The assistance will be channelled directly to the database of registered drivers holding a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) vocational licence, without requiring them to submit a new application.
Disbursement began this week, in mid-October 2026 ahead of Deepavali, bringing immediate relief to tens of thousands of taxi and rental car drivers nationwide, including those in Sabah’s interior.
A survey in Tambunan found that taxi operators generally viewed the Prime Minister’s and Federal Government’s assistance as recognition of the roles they played and the ongoing challenges they faced in providing services in the interior.
These challenges included not only economic uncertainty but also difficult local infrastructure conditions.
MarcoLocal taxi driver Marco Christopher expressed his deep gratitude for the special financial assistance announced by the Prime Minister, saying the RM1,000 would be used to cover his family’s daily basic expenses.
“I am very grateful to the Government because this assistance will help us buy groceries and cover our family’s basic expenses. It will truly ease our burden under the current circumstances,” he said when met.
Elaborating on the challenges of his daily work, Marco said assistance of this kind was warranted given Sabah’s challenging terrain and road network.
He said damaged and potholed roads in some interior areas required drivers to exercise greater driving skills and led to a sharp increase in vehicle maintenance costs due to damage to tyres and other mechanical components.
Another interior taxi operator, Alfons Stephen, echoed similar sentiments, describing the financial assistance as meaningful to taxi operators in the interior, who had to contend with unpredictable daily incomes.
“Thank you to the Government for providing this assistance. It means a great deal to us taxi operators in the interior, especially now when the economic situation is very challenging and our incomes are uncertain,” he said.
Alfons also referred to existing fuel assistance initiatives, such as the Budi Madani quota. He said that although the fuel subsidy or quota was helpful, the current cost of living and rising prices of other essential goods continued to place considerable pressure on their monthly expenses.
“Even though we have the fuel quota, it is still insufficient because the prices of other goods have also gone up, so the overall situation remains the same,” he added.
Representing fellow taxi operators in Tambunan and across Sabah’s interior, Alfons urged the Government to consider introducing a sustained form of special assistance or providing the aid monthly to help stabilise taxi operators’ incomes.
Rising prices of goods in the market have also had a knock-on effect on taxi services in Sabah. As the cost of living increases, many passengers are limiting their journeys and reducing their use of taxi services.
This has resulted in a significant drop in passenger numbers, leaving taxi operators among the first to bear the impact of the economic downturn.
Sabah’s interior taxi operators hope the continued attention of the MADANI Government under the Prime Minister’s leadership will safeguard their welfare.
Besides direct financial assistance, they also hope that improvements to road infrastructure and greater support for the local public transport sector will help ensure taxi drivers in Sabah can continue to earn a living in the years ahead.
