KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 — Operators of driving institutes are among those worst affected by the movement control order (MCO) imposed by the government to curb the spread of Covid-19 as they are not allowed to operate.
As a result, many driving instructors and driving institute agents are having a hard time making ends meet as the MCO affected their income.
They are 233 driving institutes nationwide and the operators are now appealing to the government to allow them to resume operations since permission had been given to several economic sectors to do so yesterday.
President of the Malaysian Association of Driving Institutes (PIMA), Mat Aris Bakar said the long-term closure of the driving institute would result in lay-off of workers, as well as the possible closure of the driving institute.
“An estimated 20,000 workers who are completely dependent on the industry will lose their jobs if the driving institutes still cannot operate. The government needs to review the economic implications and consider allowing the driving institute to resume operations,” he told Bernama today.
Mat Aris said the closure of the driving institute also hampered the reskilling of individuals who applied for vehicle license to earn new income through e-hailing services, as riders for delivery services and couriers, which are in high demand during the MCO.
He said the implications of closing the driving institute were greater, involved many parties and affected the economic cycle ,thus causing the country to lose in terms of manpower as the transportation service is the pulse of the country’s economy.
He said the association had sent a letter to the National Security Council last January with a proposal for the driving institute to be allowed to resume operation.
A driving instructor at the Kajang / Bangi Branch Driving Training Centre, Yusrizam Yusof, 39, said he had to find other jobs because for income and his income with the driving centre depended on the number of students.
“There is no basic salary. Last year I only worked for seven months because of the MCO, and now the centre is closed again,” he added.
“There are now many people (students) are waiting to sit for the Road Transport Department (JPJ) test, talks and training.
“There had been no no cluster involving driving training centre so far, so the government should consider allowing the driving institutes to operate,” said Yusrizam, who has been a driving instructor for seven years.
— Bernama
