KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians who hold Singapore driving licences will be able to apply for the Budi95 fuel subsidy scheme beginning Thursday (Oct 16), said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Loke said the move is to facilitate the Finance Ministry’s evaluation and consideration process under Budi95 for eligible Malaysians working in Singapore.
"To assist the Finance Ministry in assessing applications from this group, the Transport Ministry through the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has set up a dedicated portal for registrations.
"All applications received will be submitted to the Finance Ministry for review and further eligibility assessment," he said during a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday (Oct 15).
According to Loke, applications will be considered based on three criteria.
The criteria are that the applicant must be a Malaysian citizen, the Singapore driving licence (LMS) must be valid, and the applicant’s work permit status in Singapore will be taken into account.
He said Malaysian citizens who no longer work in Singapore or are no longer bound by Singapore’s domestic regulations to hold a Singapore licence can reapply for a Malaysian driving licence once they cancel their Singapore licence through the existing procedures there.
Applications for reinstatement of Malaysian licences can be made at any JPJ office once confirmation is received that there are no restrictions, suspensions or convictions imposed by Singapore authorities on the licence, he added.
"The dedicated portal for Budi95 subsidy registration is accessible at www.Budi95lesenSG.jpj.gov.my starting Oct 16.
"Applicants can check their eligibility status at www.Budi95.gov.my within 14 days after submission," he said.
Loke explained that final approval for each application rests with the Finance Ministry, which will evaluate all cases based on conditions set under the Budi95 subsidy programme.
He also emphasised that the Budi95 subsidy remains strictly for vehicles registered in Malaysia.
"Even if a Malaysian has a Singapore licence, the vehicle must be registered in our country with a Malaysian number plate.
"Those driving foreign-registered vehicles, including Singapore-plated ones, are not eligible to use RON95 fuel," he said.
The initiative, Loke added, is primarily aimed at Malaysians who commute daily between Johor Baru and Singapore.
"We know that around 200,000 Malaysians travel daily for work, especially in the service sector, but live and return to Johor Baru each night.
"Many of them still own vehicles registered in Malaysia.
Hence, it is fair that they are given the opportunity to apply," he said.
Loke said the ministry does not yet have data on how many Malaysians hold Singapore driving licences.
"That is why we are opening the registration - to collect data from new applications.
"The information gathered will be submitted weekly to the Finance Ministry.
"Within two or three weeks, we expect to have an estimate of how many Malaysians fall under this group.
Hopefully before Oct ends," he said.
