One of the biggest questions following the implementation of the RON95 petrol targeted subsidy program – Budi Madani RON95 (BUDI95) – is why the T15 group is also eligible, despite the government initially said that group would be exempted. The Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, explained that the group will be exempted once the BUDI95 system is more robust.
“If there is a need in the future, when the system is more robust, then we can impose (the exemption from receiving RON95 subsidies for T15) for those with truly high (incomes) or (who use) truly luxury vehicles,” he said during the minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He said this in response to a supplementary question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) regarding why the government decided to implement BUDI95 which benefits all citizens including the T15 group.
Elaborating further, Anwar said that with the implementation of BUDI95, the government can save approximately RM2.5 billion.
Meanwhile, the government has also agreed to further increase the monthly RON95 quota to 800 liters from 600 liters for e-hailing drivers.
“For October, (for active BUDI95 e-hailing drivers) it was increased from 300 liters to 600 liters. How many (drivers) received it? 58,000 e-hailing drivers are eligible to receive up to 600 liters per month.”
“(But) there are still our friends, our children from the e-hailing (sector) who feel it is still not enough.”
“If they truly have records and needs, then the government, I want to announce here, agrees to increase the eligibility limit for BUDI95 for eligible e-hailing drivers to 800 liters per month,” he said during the minister’s question time in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He said this in response to a question from Syerleena Abdul Rashid (PH-Bukit Bendera) regarding the progress of the first month of the RON95 Subsidy Targeting Program’s implementation and the actions taken by the government in resolving arising issues, particularly concerning airport taxi drivers, e-hailing drivers, and river boat users regarding their eligibility under BUDI95.
