KUCHING: The 200-litre quota for subsidised diesel at RM2.10 per litre under the Budi Madani Diesel (Budi Diesel) programme may be reviewed if usage data justifies it, says Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
The Finance Minister II said it was too early to determine if the quota was insufficient as the programme only starts on July 1.
“When we introduced Budi Madani RON95 with an initial quota of 300 litres a month, many people said it was not enough.
“But the data from January to May shows that only 0.76% use more than 200 litres.
“So we need to let the system run first and see if it is effective,” he said at a media briefing on Budi Diesel here yesterday.
Amir Hamzah was responding to concerns raised by diesel vehicle owners in Sarawak that the quota might be insufficient.
Citing the increase in the Budi95 monthly quota for e-hailing drivers, he said the government is committed to improving any gaps in the system.
“Our experience has shown that we have adjusted where it is needed. This is our approach,” he said.
For boat operators in Sarawak, Amir Hamzah said the Sarawak Rivers Board will identify those eligible for the Budi Diesel initiative and submit the list to the Finance Ministry.
“We will activate their MyKad for the quota.
“If it is not enough, they can discuss with the state and federal governments to increase the quota but it has to be based on actual usage.”
Similarly, Amir Hamzah said Resident’s Offices in Sarawak will identify eligible owners of diesel-powered generators in remote areas for the Budi Diesel facility.
“Once their MyKad has been activated, they can obtain diesel at the subsidised price for their generators,” he said.
Amir Hamzah also said there is no time limit for eligible diesel users who own qualifying pick-up trucks and jeeps to apply for an additional allocation of 100 litres, bringing their monthly quota to 300 litres.
“Those who buy a pick-up truck or jeep in the future will also be eligible to apply for the additional quota, so we don’t want to close the application.
“It will remain open because we want to be fair to everybody,” he said.
