KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 — The current policy does not prevent disabled persons from the hearing category, including speech, to holding an OKU card and a Class D/DA Malaysian Driving License (LLM) to apply for a Vocational Public Service Vehicle (PSV) e-hailing License.
During the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today, Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah said they can apply for a license with health verification from a registered medical practitioner.
He was responding to Subang MP Wong Chen's original query on the guidelines to allow disabled drivers with A/A1 licenses to work as e-hailing drivers and the government's plan to change the guidelines to allow disabled drivers to obtain PSV licenses.
Regarding the permission for disabled drivers with an A/A1 license to obtain a PSV license, Hasbi said the current Public Service Vehicle Driver Licensing policy does not allow them to apply for a Vocational License for any class.
"This matter is stated under Section 30 of the Road Transport Act 1987, which requires an applicant to make a declaration in a prescribed form on suffering from any illness or physical disability that may cause the driving to be a cause of danger to others," he said.
Earlier, the Dewan Rakyat session turned anxious for a moment when Transport Minister Anthony Loke, while answering Wong's original question, looked out of breath and cleared his throat several times before Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker Alice Lau asked for Hasbi to take over his duties.
However, he was later seen as stable, and he continued to answer supplementary questions from Rantau Panjang MP Datuk Siti Zailah Mohd Yusoff, who wanted to know if there were certain exceptions for the disabled in the e-hailing sector.
As for the issue, Loke said that indeed, an exemption is given, but for class A/A1 applicants, the physical disability experienced must be considered.
"Some may not be allowed at the exemption level but as in our policy, we are indeed 'pro' disabled drivers because we see that they are also able to contribute to the community and are able to be prudent drivers in the e-hailing service.
"For us, as long as they can prove that they are physically able to drive, we will try to give exceptions. They only need an exemption from the Health Ministry in the registration form, and we will study and try to improve the matter," he said.
— Bernama
