KUALA LUMPUR: A website will be launched today to facilitate Malaysians holding Singapore driving licences to apply for the Budi Madani RON95 subsidy.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke (pic) said the initiative aims to assist Malaysians working in Singapore who are required to use Singapore-issued licences, particularly those in the service sector, such as bus drivers, support service personnel and operational staff.
“The ministry acknowledges feedback from Malaysians employed in Singapore regarding the Budi95 subsidy implementation, especially those in essential service roles,” he told a press conference yesterday.
The new website can be accessed at www.BUDI95lesenSG.jpj.gov.my.
Applicants can check their eligibility status after 14 days via the official portal www.budi95.gov.my, Bernama reported.
According to Loke, all applications would be forwarded to the Finance Ministry for review and approval.
To qualify, applicants must be Malaysian citizens, hold a valid Singapore driving licence and possess a valid work permit in Singapore.
“We hope this move will ease the process for Malaysians working in Singapore and ensure they are fairly considered under the national fuel subsidy programme,” he said.
The minister, however, stressed that the Budi95 subsidy remains exclusively for vehicles registered in Malaysia and Malaysians who are no longer working in Singapore may reapply for a Malaysian driving licence after cancelling their Singapore licence in accordance with existing procedures.
On another matter, Loke said the government is looking to amend the law to hold consignors and consignees accountable for forcing lorry operators to carry loads beyond the permitted limit.
He said the move is aimed at ensuring every party in the logistics chain shares responsibility for road safety, not just the driver or transport company.
“We are drafting amendments to make consignors and consignees, the senders and receivers of goods, equally liable.
“The entire ecosystem must comply and work together to ensure road users’ safety by not allowing excessive loads,” he added.
Loke said the ministry, through the Road Transport Department, would soon launch a large-scale operation against heavy vehicles with loads exceeding weight limits.
He said overloading not only increases the risk of accidents but also causes extensive road damage, leading to higher maintenance costs for the government.
“This has been repeatedly raised by the Works Ministry and the Public Works Department (JKR), especially in industrial zones, near ports and quarries, where overloaded lorries cause roads to deteriorate faster,” he explained.
He said damaged roads, particularly those riddled with potholes, pose serious dangers to motorcyclists, especially during rainy or dark conditions, and are among the main contributors to accidents.
Loke said the new approach will not target only lorry drivers or transport firms but also industries that pressure them to overload.
“We understand that most lorry drivers don’t want to carry excess loads. Many do so because cargo owners push them due to cost and competition pressures.
“JPJ will meet with quarry, steel and other industries involved to issue warnings. If they continue, stricter action will follow,” he said.
