BALIK PULAU: The Transport Ministry will request a RM10 million allocation from the Finance Ministry next year to further expand the MyLesen B2 Programme so that more people from the B40 group can have their motorcycle licence.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the allocation would benefit more than 30,000 people through the MyLesen B2 Programme.
"We plan to apply for a larger allocation next year, which is double or triple, maybe RM10 million compared to this year's allocation which is RM2.7 million for 9,000 people through the 2023 Budget.
"We will negotiate with the Finance Ministry to get the allocation (RM10 million) for next year.
"This so that more people from the B40 group can have their motorcycle licence for free.
"This initiative is in line with the government's efforts to educate the public on the awareness of compliance with road regulations and the culture of road safety among the youth," he said.
He was met after attending the handing over of the driver's license under the MyLesen B2 Programme, at the Balik Pulau Driving Training Center here today.
Present was Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
At the ceremony, a total of 293 school students from 12 schools in the southwest district, comprising the B40 group, received their class B2 driver licences.
Loke said the MyLesen B2 Programme was also a commitment and effort of the unity government to help the B40 group to improve their socio-economic status and household income through job opportunities in the gig economy sector and many more.
He said the government was also working on the initiative to help the B40 group who face economic challenges in obtaining a B2 driver's licence and to produce competent and safe motor vehicle drivers.
"The effort is also driven by the government's desire to constantly intensify road safety advocacy and enforcement activities for road users to reduce the accident rate in accordance with the United Nations (UN) Resolution to reduce the rate of death and injury due to road accidents by at least 50 per cent by 2030," he added.
The MyLesen B2 Programme, to help the B40 group get Class B2 motorcycle licences (motorcycle), is one of the initiatives under the 2023 Budget implemented by the Transport Ministry through the Road Transport Department (RTD).