PUTRAJAYA, September 27 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday clarified that the 300-litre monthly cap under the Budi95 fuel subsidy scheme was set above the needs of most Malaysians, with government data showing 98 per cent of motorists consume less than 220 litres a month.
He said the higher limit was chosen to avoid penalising the small minority who drive more, adding that compact cars could cover up to 5,700km on the allocation, while even larger sedans and SUVs could travel between 3,600km and 4,500km monthly.
Anwar also assured that those who rely on RON95 for their livelihoods, such as small farmers, boat operators and workers using petrol-powered machinery, would not be left out. While licensed fishermen already receive separate allowances, others with legitimate needs can appeal through the Finance Ministry’s portal.
He stressed that the goal was to assist millions of Malaysians while preventing abuse, urging critics not to politicise the reform. To ensure smooth implementation, Anwar revealed that the system handling the Budi95 scheme can process up to 30,000 transactions per minute — ten times the capacity of the earlier Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) aid platform — minimising risks of disruption.
He defended the use of MyKad for verification, noting it was the only way to guarantee that subsidised fuel goes exclusively to citizens and not foreigners. “When we lower the price, it is for our people,” he said, reminding the public not to rush petrol stations when the scheme launches nationwide on Sept 30.
