KUCHING: The launch of the Subsidised Petrol Control System (SPKS) BUDI95 saw strong public response across the city, particularly at fuel stations located along well-traveled suburban arteries.
Petronas and Shell stations in Matang Jaya and Petra Jaya experienced steady queues during peak hours, as residents ran errands, made school runs, or took workday breaks, contributing to a busy but largely orderly atmosphere.
At the Petronas Matang Jaya station, motorists patiently lined up to refuel under the new subsidy scheme, though the situation remained orderly and without major disruption to surrounding traffic.
A similar scene was observed at Petronas and Shell in Petrajaya, where vehicles moved steadily in and out of the stations.
For daily commuters, the introduction of BUDI95 came as timely relief.
Nur Izza Nisrina Zaidi from Semerah Padi, who often passes the Petronas Petra Jaya station, described the launch as “busy but manageable,” said that she did not have to wait long and that most motorists were patient.
“So far it’s quite orderly. I think the staff handled it well and drivers were cooperative.
“I mostly fill my fuel here during the weekend, but today I came because of BUDI95. In my opinion, the station will be even more crowded on weekends.
“Since this is the middle of the week, traffic is still mild and less congested compared to what’s likely coming, so I decided to refill now.”
Looking ahead, Nur Izza hoped the scheme would be expanded with more stations included under BUDI95, so the crowd does not concentrate in just a few places.
Meanwhile, Stannylaus Cyril from Petra Jaya said said his experience at the station was positive despite the mid-day crowd.
“Today the line was longer than usual, but it moved steadily, so I didn’t feel stressed. People were patient enough.
“The queueing inside the station was fine, but outside, cars trying to cut in could make it messy. Clearer traffic guidance would definitely help.”
On the impact of the subsidy, Stannylaus said the scheme would ease his household budget.
He also suggested that more stations should be brought into the programme to prevent bottlenecks in high-density areas such as Petra Jaya.
“If only a handful of stations are included, then we’ll see even heavier congestion here. Adding more options would spread the load and reduce frustration.
“Usually, I top up either late evening or weekends, but traffic in Petra Jaya is known for being severe, especially after office hours. Refuelling now was a safer bet.”
