KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has moved to clear up confusion among the public over the difference between BUDI Diesel and the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS), among other issues raised at a press conference here today.
KPDN Sarawak’s Director, Matthew Dominic Barin, said BUDI Diesel, unlike SKDS, does not require separate registration.
“Any individual who owns a diesel vehicle is automatically eligible for the subsidy, with the system verifying eligibility through the owner’s identity card, which is linked to the Road Transport Department’s (RTD) records.
“SKDS, on the other hand, is reserved for commercial vehicles and not for private use,” he said.
On the issue of quota transfers, Matthew said the feature under the Budi MADANI system was still experiencing technical issues for some users, and advised affected applicants to try again.
Asked whether the transfer facility could be extended to relatives such as aunts and uncles, he said he was not in a position to comment, as the facility was currently limited to immediate family members only, namely spouses, parents, children and siblings.
“The matter is still being studied and would be implemented in phases, given the volume of queries received,” he added.
On complaints involving individuals whose vehicles are not registered under a company, Matthew said KPDN was taking steps to rectify such cases, noting that vehicle owners who have yet to register in the system will not be able to enjoy the subsidy in the meantime.
He said KPDN had also rolled out a rural price uniformity project distributing seven essential items, including diesel, petrol, cooking oil, flour, sugar and LPG, through appointed rural point-of-sale outlets, adding that transporters had been trained to deliver the goods to rural areas.
“No complaints of supply shortages in rural areas had been received so far, and that any issues could be channelled directly to KPDN,” Matthew said.
He added that KPDN had conducted outreach briefings in Limbang, Miri, Bintulu, Sibu and Kuching, engaging transport associations, temenggongs, penghulus, local leaders and government agencies in rural and interior areas, with service counters opened at all KPDN branches to assist affected parties.
