Secondary driver rule for taxi drivers aged 65 above to be removed, says CVLB S’wak chief

KUCHING (Jan 20): The Sarawak Commercial Vehicles Licensing Board (CVLB) will remove the requirement for taxi drivers aged 65 and above to register a secondary driver.

Currently, many drivers register their children as secondary drivers simply to comply with the rule, despite them never operating the taxi, CVLB chairman Michael Kong said in a statement.

“Moving forward, renewal will be based on the driver holding Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence.

“PSV holders are already certified medically fit, so this change removes an unnecessary burden while maintaining safety standards,” he explained.

Kong also highlighted that traffic flow management at airports across Sarawak will be closely monitored.

These measures were discussed during a meeting between the state CVLB and taxi associations, where several proposals to strengthen and modernise the taxi industry were raised.

The board is also considering allowing companies to apply for taxi licenses to encourage greater private sector investment and develop professionally managed taxi fleets, similar to the model in countries such as Singapore.

Kong added that proper use of digital meters is crucial to boosting public confidence in taxi services, especially ahead of Visit Malaysia 2026, which is expected to welcome more visitors to Sarawak.

“We remain committed to balancing the welfare of industry players with public safety and service quality, while ensuring policies remain relevant to current needs,” he added.