Baku:About 53,000 taxi, rental car, and school bus drivers are set to receive a one-off financial aid payment of RM1,000 each before Deepavali, as announced by Transport Minister Anthony Loke. The aid, amounting to RM53 million, will be distributed within two to three weeks through direct handovers and online transfers.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the Transport Minister emphasized that data verification for eligible drivers will be conducted with the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to ensure all drivers receive the aid before the festival. The process was highlighted at the inaugural aid presentation ceremony, which included 500 drivers from the Central Zone as symbolic recipients.

Drivers are not required to apply for the aid. Eligibility will be determined using databases maintained by APAD, the Road Transport Department (JPJ), and the Commercial Vehicle Licensing Boards of Sabah and Sarawak, with the sole requirement being a valid Public Service Vehicle (PSV) vocational license. Drivers who do not receive the aid can contact their associations to update their details.

The financial assistance is funded by revenue generated from the special 'H' vehicle registration number series auction, which raised RM91 million last September. A portion of this revenue has been allocated by the Finance Ministry to fund the initiative, which was announced during the Budget 2027 presentation. This funding does not rely on future budget allocations or require parliamentary approval, as the funds were already in the Consolidated Revenue Account.

During the Budget 2027 presentation in the Dewan Rakyat, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim highlighted the assistance as a government initiative to return revenue to the people.