Nine out of 10 Malaysians will not be affected by the Budi95 quota adjustment, says home minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail. From April 1, the 300 litre monthly quota for RON 95 petrol under the Budi Madani RON 95 fuel subsidy programme will be temporarily adjusted to 200 litres a month, at the same subsidised rate of RM1.99 per litre.
Given that the majority of consumers use only about 100 litres of RON 95 each month, daily life for 90% of the population would continue as normal without additional costs, he said, reiterating that indicated by prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when he announced the upcoming quota adjustment yesterday.
Saifudding added that the adjusted quota will remain in place until global conditions stabilise, and assured e-hailing drivers that their quota would remain at 800 litres a month to protect their livelihoods, as the New Straits Times reports.
The Pakatan Harapan secretary-general said the national fuel subsidy bill had surged sixfold from RM700 million to RM4 billion a month due to the conflict in the Middle East, forcing the government to balance the figures through the temporary quota adjustment.
“The government maintains a clear stance that the people must be protected by continuing the Budi95 subsidy despite increasingly challenging global pressures,” he said. He added that while other nations had passed the burden to their citizens, Malaysia was choosing to absorb the price increase to prevent a drastic impact on the cost of living.
“Today’s world is facing increasingly challenging global pressures. The surge in crude oil prices past US$100 per barrel has had a major impact on many countries. In Hong Kong, petrol prices have reached around RM14 per litre. In Singapore, it is about RM10 per litre. This is the reality the world is facing today. However, in Malaysia, the government has taken a clear stand to protect the people,” he said.
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