KUALA TERENGGANU, 9 Jan 2009: With the Kuala Terengganu by-election in full swing, the demand for rental cars has also picked up, a welcome change from three months ago.
“Without the (17 Jan) by-election we would suffer, as 17% of our income was affected a couple of months ago following the rainy season,” said Kuala Terengganu/Marang Car Rental Driver/Owner Association chairman Megat Yahya Megat Osman.
Megat Yahya said car rental owners could earn up to RM550 a day if big events, such as the 2008 Malaysia Games (Sukma) and international-level Al-Quran Reciters Assembly, were held in the state.
“It all depends on each person’s luck. We make sure we provide the best service to make people happy,” he told Bernama here.
He said the state government had provided aid of RM10,000 to each car rental operator last year to upgrade their cars in tandem with Kuala Terengganu being declared a Heritage Waterfront City.
Megat Yahya said the association hoped the state government would set up a centralised car rental depot as the current ones were scattered around the city.
“We need to locate them in one place, preferably near a bus terminal so that there exists healthy competition among car rental associations.
“Due to the current scattered locations, some have problems getting passengers while some are doing well,” he said.
State executive councillor Toh Chin Yew said Terengganu was the first to offer aid of RM10,000 to car rental operators to improve their vehicles’ image.
Improving the image of rental cars as well as public transportation would attract more tourists to the state, he said. — Bernama
