PETALING JAYA: E-hailing drivers say the current 600-litre monthly RON95 quota under the Budi95 scheme is insufficient to sustain their daily operations, urging the government to increase it to at least 1,000 litres.
Grab driver Mohd Saiful Faiz Md Nazri said drivers are struggling to manage long-distance trips within the limited quota, especially those handling Standard and JustGrab services that receive higher ride volumes.
“The 600-litre quota is insufficient for Grab drivers. We need at least 1,000 litres a month. I drive a Premium Grab, so perhaps in my case the situation is not that bad.
“But for my colleagues who drive Standard Grab or JustGrab, it’s worse because they get more ride requests since their prices are cheaper.
“That means longer distances and higher fuel use. They need between 1,000 and 1,200 litres a month,” he said when met yesterday.
Another driver, who only wanted to be known as Choong, said his work often involves multiple trips between Kuala Lumpur and the airport in a single day.
“I drive a six-seater Standard Grab. My customers include many foreigners, so I usually go back and forth to KLIA several times a day.
“The 600-litre quota lasts only two to three weeks. By the fourth week, I have to pump at RM2.60 per litre. What will happen when the government floats the price on Nov 1? It will definitely cost more than RM2.60,” he said.
Another e-hailing driver, known only as Jack, said it would be unprofitable to continue if the pump price rises significantly once RON95 is floated.
“It makes no sense to pump petrol at high prices when my fares remain low. I’d probably have to look for a different job once my 600-litre quota is finished.
“I hope the government can give us at least 1,000 litres a month,” he added.
Standard Grab driver Zahri Sulaiman shared similar frustrations, saying he began limiting himself to short-distance rides after exhausting his quota.
“I started running out of my 600-litre quota a few days ago, so I’ve only been doing short-distance rides. It’s not great because some rides cost less than RM10, so I’m not really making money,” Zahri added.
Nevertheless, fellow Grab driver Tee has no choice but to continue driving, as this is his main job now that he has retired.
“Back then, my salary wasn’t high, so my EPF amount is small. I have to drive Grab for money...for myself and my wife. Otherwise, who’s going to feed us?
“Based on my calculations, I’ll need at least 1,000 litres a month to drive normally again,” he said.
On Oct 13, the Finance Ministry announced that the Budi95 usage eligibility for full-time e-hailing drivers had been doubled from 300 litres to 600 litres per month as part of ongoing improvements for the scheme.
