BUDI95: Over 13 Million Malaysians Enjoy RM800 Million In Savings In First Month

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 (Bernama) -- A total of 13.1 million Malaysians have made transactions under the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme, with a spending value of RM2.66 billion in the first month of its implementation from Sept 30 to yesterday.

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) said that the total involved the purchase of 1.33 billion litres of subsidised RON95 petrol, with a total government subsidy of about RM800 million to ease the burden of the people's cost of living.

"This includes over 23,000 fishermen and registered boat users who do not have an active driving licence, especially in Sabah and Sarawak,” it said in a statement today.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the implementation of BUDI95 ensures that Malaysians enjoy the subsidy benefits directly without complicated processes, besides enabling the government to redistribute the savings back into the development and welfare of the people.

"Clearly, this programme provides multiple benefits to the people and the country,” he added in the statement.

The MoF also explained that since the implementation of BUDI95, a total of 16.55 million Malaysians have been eligible to enjoy the RON95 subsidised price at RM1.99 per litre compared to RM2.60 per litre without subsidy, thus exceeding the original projection of 15 million people.

Under the BUDI95 programme, all Malaysian MyKad holders aged 16 and above who possess active driving licences are eligible to purchase up to 300 litres of subsidised RON95 petrol per month.

According to the ministry, since Oct 13, the MADANI Government has raised the ceiling on monthly eligibility for full-time e-hailing drivers to 600 litres per month, thus benefiting nearly 58,000 e-hailing drivers nationwide.

"On average, BUDI95 recipients under the private category recorded a usage of 98.2 litres per month for October, way lower than the stipulated minimum monthly eligibility of 300 litres.

"As of Oct 26, less than 0.7 per cent of BUDI95 recipients have fully utilised their monthly eligibility before the end of the month,” it added.

The MoF also detailed that only 0.6 per cent of private users had fully used up the monthly limit of 300 litres, while among registered boat users without a driving licence, only 0.3 per cent had used up the full monthly limit.

As part of its commitment to strengthening the implementation of BUDI95, the MADANI Government will carry out improvements from time to time, including reviewing the additional qualification limits for e-hailing drivers so that it is more equitable and comprehensive.

The ministry also said it had identified several unusual usage patterns, including recipients who used up their entire monthly limit in a short period of time, as well as repeated purchases at stations near the country's borders.

"As such, the MADANI Government, through the MOF and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), will continue to strengthen monitoring at petrol stations, as well as among users, to ensure that the benefits of BUDI95 are not misused.

"The government will not compromise on any misuse or resale of subsidised petrol to ineligible parties, and strict action will be taken against those involved under the Control of Supplies Act 1961,” it added.

-- BERNAMA