The card will be distributed by the Land Public Transport Commission with the cooperation of the finance ministry, and involves funding totalling RM53.6 million, said the prime minister, Najib Razak, when making the announcement.

Najib, who is also finance minister, said the RM800 stored value would be reviewed from time to time depending on the government’s affordability.

Taxi drivers were also eligible to get other facilities under the Mesra Petronas loyalty programme including personal accident insurance protection of up to RM50,000.

Najib also announced that all taxi drivers would be automatically approved for the 1Malaysia People’s Aid (BR1M) programme.

He said some taxi drivers had said they had failed to qualify for BR1M because they were registered as company owners.

Speaking at an event for the handing over of the cards, Najib said: “The government will never forget taxi drivers who have always been close to the heart of the government.”

More than 10,000 taxi drivers from throughout the country attended the ceremony. Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nancy Shukri, SPAD acting chairman Mohd Isa Abdul Samad and SPAD (land transport commission) chief executive officer Mohd Azharuddin Mat Sah.

Najib said that in Langkawi, only 195 out of 982 taxi drivers qualified for BR1M, while 425 were not eligible because they were registered with SSM.

“The government views this as unfair and the condition (if they were registered with SSM were ineligible) is not something that the government wanted actually. So, the government has decided that all taxi drivers eligible to apply for BR1M will get automatic approval.

“I am aware that taxi drivers work more than 12 hours. What is announced today is the provision of Kad Bantuan Teksi 1Malaysia and BR1M for the community of taxi drivers to bring relief to all,” he said.