PUTRAJAYA, July 5 — 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.
The Finance Ministry said that the approval raises recipients' monthly subsidised diesel quota from 200 litres to 300 litres beginning this month, comprising more than 174,000 recipients in Peninsular Malaysia and over 22,000 in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan as of yesterday.
"This additional facility is provided taking into account the higher diesel consumption needs among pick-up and jeep owners, including for small and medium business use, as well as travel to rural and remote areas," it said in a statement today.
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 for diesel pick-up and jeep owners, these vehicles are not just for daily commuting, but are also used to earn a living and manage family needs," he told the media after inspecting the programme's implementation at a petrol station in Kota Kinabalu today.
Amir added that the 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 Wednesday (July 1).
The government 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.
"This flexibility is given to ensure that those who are genuinely eligible and use the vehicle will benefit from the subsidy," he said, noting that more than 2,000 applications to transfer 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 at www.budimadani.gov.my.
Amir said that more than 336,000 diesel transactions had been recorded between the start of BUDI Diesel early access on June 27 and yesterday, involving the purchase of 12.6 million litres of subsidised diesel and government subsidies amounting to more than RM23 million.
"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.
Regarding savings generated through the programme, the minister said it is still too early to provide a precise figure, as transaction data is 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.
Amir is confident that the programme will generate significant savings, enabling the government to channel more funds into assistance programmes for the people.
