THOSE keen to hold their own taxi permit have until Oct 14 to put in their applications.

But competition will be tough as there are more than 10,000 applications on the waiting list for the 3,000 permits to be issued.

Entrepreneur and Co-operative Development Minister Datuk Noh Omar told the Senate yesterday that applications for individual permits was reopened last week.

Noh said among the criteria were: applicants must be a citizen, have the support of a taxi association or co-operative, be in good health and have no criminal records.

"The applicant must also have driven a taxi for more than a year," he told Senator Heng Seai Kie.
However, government servants are not eligible to apply.

To another question from Heng, Noh said taxi companies were generally found to provide good service and tended to the welfare of drivers on their payroll.

He told the House that taxi permits were valid for a period of seven years.

To a question from Senator Datuk Syed Alhabshee, Noh said there were sufficient funds for taxi drivers, if they had difficulties in raising money to buy a vehicle when a licence was granted.

He said the driver could go to Mara or banks for a loan.

On the possibility that some would not be granted loans due to their age, Noh said the banks would still consider if the driver had a partner.

"Usually this can be the permit holder's son, or anyone else who is willing to drive the taxi once the owner is no longer in a position to drive the vehicle," he said.

To a question from Senator Mumtaz Md Nawi, Noh said the ministry was receptive in giving permits to women, including single mothers.

"We have women bus drivers today and women taxi drivers will not be a problem."