PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he had not forgotten taxi drivers who stood by him during his difficult times in 1998, pledging to continue looking after their welfare.
Anwar, who is also PKR president, said their support during the Reformasi era, when he faced pressure and was detained, was one reason he wanted to prioritise their needs as prime minister.
"When I was in difficulty, kicked, beaten and put in lockup, these people helped me! Now that I am prime minister, would I say no when they (taxi drivers) ask for RM1,000?" he said.
He was speaking at the launch of special financial assistance for taxi drivers, hire car drivers and school bus drivers.
Anwar recalled how taxi drivers had helped him by delivering food to supporters at his home without charge.
"How could we afford to provide drinks and kuih? Small hawkers in Kerinchi and the surrounding area gave kuih. Who delivered it? The taxi (drivers) helped deliver it. Who paid? No one.
"The taxi (drivers) helped deliver kuih to my house for the people who were working and for their families to eat," he said.
Anwar also recalled helping an elderly man from Nilai, Negri Sembilan, repair his house before he was imprisoned.
He said the man sold salted eggs. When he was imprisoned, the man took a taxi to deliver them from Nilai to Anwar's house in Kuala Lumpur
Anwar said the taxi driver refused to accept payment from the man for the return journey after hearing his story.
"He said, 'It is fine, pakcik, I will not take your money. This is my sincere contribution as a citizen,'" Anwar said.
Anwar said he had dozens of such stories about taxi drivers.
He said the one-off aid for taxi drivers was being given because the government had collected revenue and wanted to return it to the people.
"That was service during my difficult time. Now that I am prime minister, it is fine, everyone, come," he said.
On Oct 9, Anwar announced in the 2027 Budget speech that the government would provide one-off aid of RM1,000 to 38,000 taxi and hire car drivers, as well as 15,000 school bus drivers nationwide.
The Road Transport Department (RTD) raised RM91.21 million from the sale of the special "H" number plate series, which was open for online bidding through the JPJeBid system from Sept 16 to 20 in conjunction with Malaysia Day.
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