PUTRAJAYA: Nearly 200,000 owners of pick-up- and jeep-type diesel vehicles nationwide have been approved for an additional 100 litres of subsidised diesel per month under the Budi Madani Diesel (Budi Diesel) programme, says the Finance Ministry.
In a statement on Sunday (July 5), the ministry said the approval raises recipients' monthly subsidised diesel quota from 200 litres to 300 litres starting July, comprising more than 174,000 recipients in Peninsular Malaysia and over 22,000 in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
"This additional facility is provided with higher diesel consumption needs among pick-up and jeep owners taken into account, including for small and medium businesses, as well as travel to rural and remote areas," it said.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the additional allocation would help vehicle owners better manage their monthly diesel needs.
"The government understands that diesel pick-up and jeep vehicles are not just for daily commuting but are also used to earn a living and manage family needs," he told reporters after inspecting the implementation of the programme at a petrol station in Kota Kinabalu on Sunday.
Amir Hamzah said public response to Budi Diesel had been encouraging, with more than 238,000 users benefiting from it since its implementation in Peninsular Malaysia on June 27 and in Sabah and Sarawak on July 1.
He said the government had introduced a quota-transfer facility following feedback involving diesel vehicles used by immediate family members or whose ownership records had yet to be updated, allowing the subsidy to be utilised by the actual vehicle user rather than the registered owner.
For private diesel vehicles used by immediate family members who are not the registered owners, the original Budi Diesel recipient may apply to transfer eligibility through the Budi Madani portal, subject to the stipulated conditions and verification process.
Alternatively, actual vehicle users may update the ownership records with the Road Transport Department (JPJ). To facilitate the process, the government has granted a three-month exemption on ownership transfer fees for diesel vehicles beginning July 1, 2026.
"This flexibility is given to ensure that those who are genuinely eligible and use the vehicle will benefit from the subsidy," he said, adding that more than 2,000 applications for the transfer of Budi Diesel eligibility had been received through the Budi Madani portal.
Owners of diesel pick-up and jeep vehicles may also apply for the additional 100-litre quota and transfer of eligibility through the portal at www.budimadani.gov.my.
He said more than 336,000 diesel transactions had been recorded between the start of Budi Diesel early access on June 27 and July 4, involving the purchase of 12.6 million litres of subsidised diesel and government subsidies amounting to more than RM23mil.
"These sales encompass the purchase of subsidised diesel at RM2.15 per litre during early access and RM2.10 per litre since the full implementation of Budi Diesel on July 1," he said.
On savings generated through the programme, Amir Hamzah said it was still too early to provide a precise figure as transaction data was still being collected and verified.
However, based on feedback from petrol station operators, diesel sales volumes had declined slightly, likely due to reduced purchases by those not eligible for the subsidy.
He expressed confidence that the programme would generate significant savings, enabling the government to channel more funds into assistance programmes for the people. – Bernama
