Technician,Mohamad Zakwan Kahsan,38, checking his eligibility using his identity card at a petrol station in Bandar Perda. Mohamad Zakwan said he will only be eligible for the subsidy on Sept 30. (September 29, 2025) — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.
BUTTERWORTH: Technician Mohamad Zakwan Kahsan has been to several petrol stations – all of different companies – over the past few days.
However, he has not filled up his tank anywhere. He has been checking if his MyKad works in all the different places before the national roll-out of the Budi95 initiative.
“I have checked my MyKad several times already, just to confirm that the chip in the card is working,” said the 38-year-old who is excited about going to the fuel pump to fill up today.
Mohamad Zakwan is among many motorists eagerly awaiting the rollout.
Lorry driver Rozaidi Tajuddin, 51, who described the initiative as a kind gesture from the Federal Government, said the 300 litres per month allocation was more than sufficient for his personal use.
“I hope the programme will be maintained so that more families like mine can benefit,” he said.
P-hailing rider Safiy Danial, 25, said the subsidy was timely, adding that fuel is one of his biggest daily expenses.
“I usually use around seven litres a day, roughly 210 litres a month, so the quota is ideal for me,” he said.
“My work often requires me to cover long distances across the city, and the savings will directly boost my take-home income.”
While the initiative has been widely welcomed, there are concerns that some users may exceed the 300-litre monthly cap.
Narayanan said he used more than 300litre of petrol every month. (September 29, 2025) — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star.
Businessman S. Narayanan, 57, said his monthly petrol usage went beyond that limit.
“I easily use more than 300 litres due to my work-related travel. I often drive to other states, and typically use up to 700 litres of petrol each month.
“I hope there’ll be some adjustments for users who rely heavily on their vehicles for business or long-distance travel,” he said as he checked his MyKad eligibility at a petrol station in Jalan Baru here.
Many petrol stations have set up counters where people can check if their MyKad chips are in working order.
