KUCHING: The government has been urged to consider increasing the subsidised RON95 petrol quota under the Budi MADANI (Budi95) programme by an additional 300 litres for all e-hailing drivers.
This is regardless of whether they meet the current 3,000-kilometre monthly threshold, provided they hold a valid PSV licence and are registered with an e-hailing company.
Persatuan Anak Istimewa Sarawak (PERAIS) president Rapelson Richard Hamit said the move is crucial to support e-hailing drivers in Sabah and Sarawak who face lower demand, especially in rural areas.
“For drivers in Sabah and Sarawak, it is difficult to reach the 3,000-kilometre target due to low demand, health issues, and the use of vehicles for personal purposes,” he said in a statement.
Rapelson said that the government should consider allocating an additional 300 litres of subsidised petrol for e-hailing drivers who drive less than 3,000 kilometres per month, and an additional 600 litres for those exceeding that distance.
This means drivers covering under 3,000 kilometres would receive a total of 600 litres of subsidised fuel, while those exceeding 3,000 kilometres would receive up to 900 litres.
He also called for a clear mechanism to determine the total mileage of e-hailing drivers, as many of them work with multiple platforms such as Grab, Maxim, InDriver and AirAsia simultaneously.
“Due to the limited quota, some drivers are forced to use their spouse’s or family members’ MyKad to access the subsidised fuel benefits,” he added.
In addition, Rapelson urged the government to extend an extra 300 litres of RON95 subsidy quota to fishermen and farmers in rural Sarawak, as fuel is essential for their daily activities and transportation to remote areas in earning a livelihood.
He also referred to a statement by Treasury Secretary-General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, who previously said that 95 per cent of Malaysians consume no more than 180 litres of petrol per month, and that those reaching the 300-litre limit are mostly residents of border areas.
However, Rapelson stressed that the needs of Sabah and Sarawak should not be equated with those of Peninsular Malaysia.
“Fishermen and farmers in the interior of Sarawak require an additional 300 litres as their fuel consumption is higher for transportation and livelihood activities.
“If fuel smuggling truly occurs, the Treasury should release comprehensive statistics. Don’t let one bad apple spoil the bunch,” he said.
