KUALA LUMPUR: There have been no reports of long queues at petrol stations since the targeted subsidy rationalisation programme, Budi95, began in stages in September, the Dewan Rakyat heard on Tuesday (Nov 18).
Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying said the implementation of Budi95 has gone smoothly, and the operational systems have been stable since its launch.
“In general, there have been no issues of users having to wait or queue for long periods to refuel at petrol stations,” she said.
Lim was replying to a question from Suhaizan Kaiat (PH-Pulai) who asked the government's plan to use identity cards as a mechanism to verify the targeted subsidy for RON95 as this has raised concerns about the possibility of long queues at petrol stations, as happened with verification for the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid on Aug 31.
She said that Budi95 is supported by a server capacity far greater than that of the Sara Appreciation initiative.
“The Sara system processes only 3,000 transactions per minute, whereas the Budi95 servers are capable of processing over 10 times more, exceeding 30,000 transactions per minute.
“As of Nov 17, a total of 13.6 million Malaysians have carried out more than 143.5 million refuelling transactions under the Budi95 programme.
“Transaction rates peaked at 41.2 thousand transactions per minute, while the average rate stands at around 15 thousand transactions per minute,” she added.
On the challenges faced by people in rural areas with limited access to subsidised fuel, Lim said the government is committed to continuous improvements to ensure the Budi95 system is more comprehensive, inclusive and effective.
“Among the measures taken is the use of MyKad Terminals, which can not only be connected to WiFi networks, but also support SIM cards to ensure more stable Internet connectivity.
“The ministry will continue to work closely with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission in efforts to strengthen network coverage, especially in rural areas that still face access limitations.
“Through this coordinated effort, any issues related to Internet access in these areas can be identified and addressed appropriately and more swiftly,” she added.
