KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly 21,700 applications to transfer Budi Madani Diesel (Budi Diesel) entitlements had been approved as of Tuesday (Oct 27), says Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
He said 12,160 of the approved applications were from Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
"The government introduced the additional quota after taking into account the fact that jeeps and pickups are often used as primary vehicles, particularly in Sabah and Sarawak.
"These vehicles are used to transport agricultural produce and goods for small businesses, as well as to transport workers to rural and interior areas with more challenging terrain.
"This approach aims to ensure that users who genuinely depend on diesel vehicles for their daily economic activities continue to receive appropriate subsidy assistance," he said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 28).
Young Syefura Othman (PH-Bentong) had asked in a supplementary question how many pickup and jeep owners had received the additional 100-litre Budi Diesel quota.
Amir Hamzah said more than 291,000 diesel vehicle, jeep and pickup owners nationwide had benefited from the additional 100-litre quota under Budi Diesel up to Tuesday.
"Meanwhile, as at Oct 26 this year, more than 27,200 jeeps and pickups owned by over 19,350 companies nationwide qualified for subsidised diesel under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS), which uses fleet cards and covers vehicles owned by companies, including small businesses," he said.
He added that the government would continue to monitor the implementation of Budi Diesel based on usage data, user feedback, input from state governments and the needs of the sectors involved.
"Any proposed improvements will be carefully considered, and the government will announce any changes if there are aspects of the scheme that need to be improved," he said.
