GEORGE TOWN: Malaysians eligible for the Budi Madani RON95 (Budi95) subsidy say the initiative has made fuelling up smooth and convenient and is a welcome relief amid rising living costs.
On the second day of the nationwide rollout yesterday, Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients in Penang described the process as hassle-free.
For chicken rice hawker Suhairi Saad, 36, the savings go a long way.
“With just RM30, I can now fill up my vehicle. That means I can stretch my earnings to support my family and keep food prices affordable for customers,” he said at a petrol station in Jalan Kelawei.
Suhairi praised the simplicity of the process, saying: “I just presented my MyKad at the counter, the system verified my eligibility in seconds and I could start pumping.”
He said the staff members at the station were helpful in explaining the process, especially for first-time users.
“No long queues, no complicated forms to fill. It really helps people like us who are always on the move.”
Technician Muhd Shafiq Hakimi Hamzah, 25, echoed the sentiment.
“The system worked as expected. I just paid at the counter and the staff member explained the process clearly. It was fast and easy,” he said.
Even senior citizens who were initially sceptical found the process surprisingly easy.
“I thought it might be confusing, but it turned out to be simple,” said 72-year-old Fatimah Mohd Abdullah.
“The staff member was helpful, and the queue moved steadily.”
However, not everyone qualified as retiree Tan Boon Hock, 71, initially thought he was eligible despite not being a registered STR recipient.
After a station staff member explained the situation, Tan said he understood that he was not eligible to receive the subsidy and accepted it without issue.
“It’s okay. At least the government is helping those who really need it,” he said, thanking the staff member for their clear explanation.
At another station, a steady stream of motorists filled up without hiccups.
Petrol station operator Hilmi Hassan Farouk said operations went smoothly thanks to the training.
He said customers can pay by cash or card at the counter or through the internal payment terminal.
He encouraged motorists to use the Touch ‘n Go e-wallet as MyKad details are already verified.
The Budi95 scheme was rolled out in phases, starting with 300,000 military and police personnel on Saturday, followed by STR recipients yesterday.
From Sept 30, it will be extended to 16 million Malaysians aged 16 and above who hold a MyKad and valid driving licence.
