PUTRAJAYA – Vehicle owners are allowed to appeal if they find the monthly RM200 cash aid under the Budi Madani initiative insufficient to cover the unsubsidised diesel price in Peninsular Malaysia.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the aid, which was determined based on Statistics Department data, is projected to be enough for around 80% of diesel users.
“Based on the data, we found that RM200 (allocated to each individual) should be able to cover the (monthly diesel use) of about 80% of diesel vehicle owners.
“It’s hoped that (RM200 monthly) is sufficient, but if there are any issues (where) applicants wish to make an appeal, they can do so,” Amir told a press conference at the Finance Ministry here today.
He reiterated his assurances that the cash assistance will be able to cover increased fuel prices, with the retail price for diesel at petrol stations across West Malaysia at RM3.35 per litre, effective 12.01am on June 10.
The retail price of diesel fuel for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, however, will remain at RM2.15 per litre.
The float price for diesel coincides with Putrajaya effecting an RM200 cash transfer to some 30,000 eligible diesel vehicle owners under the Budi Madani initiative.
The recipients will receive their first cash aid of RM200 each on June 10 through their bank accounts, while those without a bank account can claim the aid in cash by bringing their MyKad to any Bank Simpanan Nasional branch in the peninsula.
Budi Madani is the government’s effort to ensure subsidy allocations are targeted to eligible groups, including individual assistance (Budi Individu), farmers and small-scale growers (Budi Agri-Komoditi) as well as companies and transport vehicles (MySubsidi Diesel).
The Finance Ministry earlier said the application data so far found that the majority of applicants were not approved as they did not meet the eligibility criteria set.
MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong previously claimed that the RM200 monthly aid is too low for smallholders or farmers, as they do not only use diesel for transportation but also for other machines used for irrigation, power generation and pumps.
He also said the majority of farmers and smallholders are not eligible for the assistance as it requires them to have registered companies and an annual revenue between RM50,000 and RM300,000. – June 9, 2024