Let’s verify: A petrol station employee checking a patron’s MyKad for eligibility, in view of the RON95 subsidy scheme for all Malaysian drivers. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUCHING: The Budi Madani RON95 initiative has received mixed reactions from Sarawakians who drive long distances across the country’s biggest state.
Travel events specialist and motorcycle guide Silas Michael, who runs long-distance motorcycle tours, welcomed the price of RM1.99 per litre under the initiative as it would reduce fuel costs.
He said a road trip from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu on his motorcycle consumes 70 to 80 litres of fuel.
“I’d say the monthly limit of 300 litres is sufficient for a couple of trips a month,” he said, adding that he doesn’t run the tours monthly.
Human resources development trainer George Chen said the new price under the initiative is a substantial reduction from the current price of RM2.05 per litre.
However, he said those who use more than 300 litres a month will have to pay for the additional petrol at the unsubsidised price of RM2.60 per litre, which will not help to cut down fuel costs.
“I used to purchase more than 500 litres of petrol per month when I travelled throughout Sarawak for agriculture training purposes.
“If I am a T20 earner, I’d be able to sustain the cost. But now that I am a retired part-time trainer, the initiative won’t benefit me much,” he said, referring to the top 20% of income earners as T20.
Chen also called for targeted subsidies for Sarawak, which lacks public transport facilities like the Klang Valley’s LRT system and high-speed trains.
“We rely very much on cars and motorbikes as our means of transportation. We deserve a different package of petrol subsidies that is fairer to us,” he said.
Meanwhile, in Penang, a much smaller state than Sarawak, distance is still a factor for those living further out from where they work, such as motorists commuting from towns like Sungai Petani or Alor Setar in Kedah to George Town.
Aidan Salim, 40, travels 240km daily from Taman PKNK, Alor Setar, to his workplace in Komtar, George Town, on a high-powered motorcycle. It burns nearly 10 litres of petrol a day, or about RM19 at the current RM2.05 per litre price.
During the rainy season, Aidan opts to drive for safety reasons, increasing his fuel consumption.
On weekends, he also uses his car to take his family out on leisure trips and to visit relatives and friends, adding to his petrol use.
With an average sedan fuel efficiency of 10km to 15km per litre, work-related travel alone could consume 200 to 250 litres per month, not counting the leisure trips.
“The journey is long and demanding, but it has become second nature to me,” said Aidan.
“The 300-litre quota just will not be enough in my case, even though there may not be many commuters like me.
“I hope the government can consider special provisions or higher quotas for those of us who travel long distances daily,” he said.
