KUCHING: Sarawak United National Youth Organisation (SABERKAS) Batu Lintang branch secretary Wilson Tan is backing Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How’s call for Putrajaya to defer the implementation of the new diesel subsidy mechanism in Sarawak by at least three months to ensure the system is fully prepared for the state’s unique operating environment.
Tan said he supported See’s concerns that the policy, while well-intentioned, should not be implemented hastily without taking into account Sarawak’s geographical and socio-economic realities.
“I support the information and views issued by See Chee How. While the objective of targeted diesel subsidies is understandable, any major policy shift must reflect the realities on the ground, especially in Sarawak where businesses, transport operators, the agriculture sector and rural communities depend heavily on diesel for their daily livelihoods,” he said in a statement.
Previously, See had urged the federal government to postpone the implementation of the new diesel subsidy mechanism in Sarawak by at least three months to allow sufficient time to address operational issues before full enforcement.
He also called for the existing diesel purchasing mechanism to be restored during the transition period, while urging enforcement authorities to focus on genuine cross-border diesel smuggling syndicates instead of placing additional burdens on legitimate businesses.
In addition, See proposed the deployment of mobile registration counters across Sarawak to assist the public, particularly those in rural and interior areas.
Echoing those concerns, Tan said the federal government must ensure the MyKad verification mechanism at fuel stations and the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) registration process are seamless and free from technical glitches before the new policy is enforced.
He said the system must also be fully operational and capable of overcoming connectivity challenges in rural areas, while ensuring communities in the deep interior without reliable internet or banking access are not left behind.
Tan added that local businesses should not be burdened by administrative delays or inflexible fuel consumption quotas that could disrupt their operations.
He reiterated the call for the federal government to defer the mandatory implementation of the new diesel subsidy mechanism in Sarawak by at least three months and to restore unrestricted diesel purchasing channels during the transition period to prevent disruptions to economic activities.
Tan also urged the government to focus enforcement efforts on dismantling actual cross-border diesel smuggling syndicates rather than imposing excessive red tape on law-abiding businesses.
He further proposed deploying mobile registration and ground support teams throughout Sarawak’s interior to assist rural residents and small traders with registration under the new system.
“Good public policies must be practical, thoroughly prepared and people-centred— not rushed through at the expense of ordinary citizens,” he said.
