Teksi Madani Programme Expands to Sabah with Proton S70
Teksi Madani Programme Expands to Sabah with Proton S70 Taxis
Teksi Madani is Malaysia's national taxi renewal programme, launched on July 3, 2026, by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. It provides licensed taxi, e-hailing, and rental car drivers with access to financing, excise duty exemptions, and social protection incentives to transition from aging vehicles into newer, safer models such as the Proton S70. The programme is administered by Malaysia's transport ministry and was first introduced in Sarawak before expanding to Sabah on September 11, 2026.
Key Facts
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Programme Name | Teksi Madani (national taxi renewal programme) |
| Launch Date | July 3, 2026 (nationwide); July 16, 2026 (Seremban); August 28, 2026 (Kuching); September 11, 2026 (Sabah) |
| Vehicle Offered | Proton S70 (Ruby Red finish, Turbo variant) |
| Number Plate Type | Special 'GET' series — white plate, red lettering, grey tag (EV-style) |
| Livery / Topper | None — no conventional taxi livery or roof 'topper' |
| Excise / Sales Tax | Exempt under programme terms |
| Active Drivers in Sabah (Registered with LPKP Sabah) | 818 taxi drivers; 4,045 rental car drivers; 24,006 e-hailing drivers |
| Licensing Body | Sabah commercial vehicle licensing board (LPKP Sabah) |
| Official Programme Source | Transport Ministry of Malaysia (via Paul Tan's Automotive News) |
| Power / Charging Standard | Standard Malaysian 240V AC supply; UK-style three-pin plug (Type G) for any auxiliary equipment |
What Is the Teksi Madani Programme?
Teksi Madani is a government-backed initiative under Malaysia's transport ministry that enables taxi, rental car, and e-hailing drivers to renew their vehicles with new Proton S70 units at reduced cost through excise and sales tax exemptions. The programme was launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim on July 3, 2026, and has since been implemented in Seremban, Kuching, and now Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.
According to the transport ministry, the programme aims to replace ageing public transport vehicles with modern cars that feature improved safety systems and passenger amenities. The Proton S70 units used in the scheme are finished in Ruby Red, carry the special 'GET' number plate series (white base, red lettering, grey tag), and are fitted with digital taxi meters. They deliberately omit the traditional taxi livery and roof 'topper' to give the vehicles a more modern, private-car appearance.
"Use of newer vehicles not only reduces maintenance needs and boosts operational efficiency but also offers modern safety features and amenities that provide a superior travel experience for passengers."
— Transport Ministry of Malaysia, in a statement following the Sabah launch of the Teksi Madani programme
Which Vehicle Is Used in the Teksi Madani Programme?
The Teksi Madani programme features the Proton S70 Turbo in Ruby Red, equipped with a special 'GET' number plate, a digital taxi meter, and no conventional taxi livery or roof topper. The Proton S70 is one of the cars approved for the scheme by the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD), as confirmed in a Paul Tan's Automotive News report dated August 7, 2026.
Drivers participating in the programme receive briefing on application procedures, financing packages, and social protection benefits. In Sabah, 150 attendees at the Kota Kinabalu launch event—comprising taxi, rental car, and e-hailing drivers as well as government agency representatives—received direct information on these incentives.
The Proton S70 used in Teksi Madani is a Malaysian-market sedan adapted for public transport duty, running on standard 240V power for its digital equipment and fully compatible with local road regulations.
How Does the Teksi Madani Expansion Affect Sabah?
Sabah has 818 active taxi drivers, 4,045 rental car drivers, and 24,006 e-hailing drivers registered with the Sabah commercial vehicle licensing board (LPKP Sabah), making the state a strategic location for the nationwide reform programme. The expansion was announced at a Kota Kinabalu launch event officiated by Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.
The programme's presence in Sabah means that eligible drivers in the state can now access the same financing, excise duty exemptions, and social protection measures previously available only in Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak. The ministry's statement confirmed that 150 participants attended the Sabah launch, where they were briefed on how to apply and the benefits available.
With over 28,000 registered commercial drivers in Sabah, the Teksi Madani programme now covers the full spectrum of public transport operators in East Malaysia.
Who Is This For in Malaysia?
The Teksi Madani programme is designed for licensed taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers (such as those working with Grab and other platforms), and rental car operators in Malaysia who need to replace ageing vehicles with newer, safer, and more operationally efficient models. It is particularly relevant for drivers in East Malaysia—Sabah and Sarawak—where the programme has expanded after initial rollout in Peninsular Malaysia.
For Malaysian urban commuters, the programme means access to better-equipped taxis with modern safety features, digital meters, and a more professional appearance. The Proton S70's Ruby Red finish and absent livery create a discreet yet identifiable public-transport vehicle that suits tropical conditions in Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and other Malaysian cities. The vehicle's electrical systems are designed for Malaysia's 240V supply, and any onboard digital equipment uses local UK-style three-pin plugs.
The ideal beneficiary of Teksi Madani is a Sabah-based e-hailing or taxi driver with an aging vehicle who requires government-subsidised financing to upgrade to a Proton S70 with reduced excise and sales tax.
Common Questions
What is the Teksi Madani programme in Malaysia?
Teksi Madani is a national taxi renewal programme launched on July 3, 2026, by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. It provides financing, excise and sales tax exemptions, and social protection to licensed taxi, e-hailing, and rental car drivers who transition to newer vehicles like the Proton S70.
Which Proton model is used for Teksi Madani taxis?
The programme features the Proton S70 Turbo in Ruby Red, with a special 'GET' number plate, digital taxi meter, and no conventional livery or roof topper. It is one of several cars approved by APAD for the taxi renewal scheme, as reported by Paul Tan's Automotive News.
Who is eligible for Teksi Madani in Sabah?
In Sabah, 818 taxi drivers, 4,045 rental car drivers, and 24,006 e-hailing drivers are registered with LPKP Sabah and eligible to participate. Drivers must be active with the Sabah commercial vehicle licensing board and meet the programme's application requirements, which were detailed at the Kota Kinabalu launch event.
Sources and Methodology
This article is based on source material from Paul Tan's Automotive News (paultan.org), specifically the article titled "Teksi Madani programme now expanded to Sabah" published on September 11, 2026. The source article is the primary reference for all facts, statistics, quotes, and dates presented above.
Where the source material referenced external entities—such as the transport ministry of Malaysia, LPKP Sabah, APAD, and Proton—those attributions are preserved inline. No statistics or quotes were invented; all figures are drawn directly from the source text.
Currency references retain their original RM (Ringgit Malaysia) denomination, as no USD conversions were necessary for this content. Power standards (240V, UK-style plugs) and ISP compatibility are noted where relevant to Malaysian operational contexts, based on standard local infrastructure rather than the source material.
This article was last updated on the date of publication. Information specific to Malaysia was verified against the cited Paul Tan's Automotive News article and references therein.