By Thanesh Veeramutu
PUTRAJAYA, 27 September: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today firmly defended the new requirement for Malaysians to use their MyKad to purchase subsidised RON95 petrol under the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) scheme. The mandatory identity verification is essential, he stated, to ensure the targeted financial assistance benefits citizens exclusively, preventing subsidy leakage to non-citizens.
Addressing the Finance Ministry’s monthly assembly, the Prime Minister emphasized that subsidies are funded by local taxpayers and must not be enjoyed by foreigners. The MyKad serves as the definitive tool to differentiate citizens from non-citizens at the point of sale, thereby protecting public funds and strengthening the integrity of the targeted aid.
Under the new policy, the government has established a clear mechanism to enforce the policy at the pumps. Foreigners operating Malaysian-registered vehicles will now be required to pay the full, unsubsidised price for RON95, currently set at RM2.60 per litre. Meanwhile, vehicles bearing foreign licence plates will continue to be restricted to purchasing the more expensive RON97 fuel, tightening an existing policy gap where non-citizens driving local cars could access the subsidised rate.
The BUDI95 scheme grants eligible Malaysians access to a subsidised rate of RM1.99 per litre for a volume of up to 300 litres per month, after which the prevailing market price applies. The initiative is set to roll out for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients early on September 28, with the scheme extending to all other entitled citizens beginning September 30.
The Prime Minister framed the initiative as a direct, tangible form of public assistance, a promise of a “Nurtured People” under a Civil Malaysia. By strictly enforcing MyKad usage, the government is solidifying its commitment to efficiency and transparency, guaranteeing that the substantial public investment in the petrol subsidy scheme reaches its rightful beneficiaries.
