Over 1.33b litres of RON95 petrol worth RM2.66b bought between Sept 30 and Oct 31 by 13 million motorists
PETALING JAYA: The Budi95 petrol subsidy initiative, which was rolled out a month ago, is proving to be a boon to Malaysians.
According to the Finance Ministry, 13.1 million Malaysians benefitted from the subsidy between Sept 30 and Oct 31, purchasing 1.33 billion litres of RON95 petrol worth RM2.66 billion.
The government provided about RM800 million in subsidies during the period to ease the cost-of-living burden of Malaysians.
Muhammad Ryan Haizar, 26, said the subsidy had helped him better manage the cost of frequent long-distance travel for work and personal trips.
The project coordinator said he often drives to northern states for assignments and makes weekly trips to Malacca.
He added that petrol used to consume a significant portion of his monthly budget.
“I would say the Budi95 subsidy is decent.
In one month, I’ve used almost 75% of the 300 litres allocated.
Three hundred litres sounds like a lot but when you’re driving hundreds of kilometres every week, the amount runs out quickly.
He said vehicle type plays a big role in how far the subsidy stretches.
“I drive an old car, so it’s not very fuel-efficient.
Even with subsidised petrol, I find myself refuelling often.
Imagine if I have to do four interstate trips.”
For part-time e-hailing driver Ahmad Farhan Rosli, 32, the subsidy has had a smaller personal impact.
Driving mostly on weekends and after work, he said he had not noticed a major difference in his expenses.
He said full-time drivers have, however, benefited significantly.
“From what I hear, full-time drivers are split 50-50 on it.
The separate 600-litre allocation for e-hailing drivers is a fair move but some say it’s still not enough.
“The allocation is good but I think it could be slightly higher.
Still, it’s positive that the government recognised the difference instead of treating everyone the same.”
He added that overall, Budi95 remains a helpful initiative.
Motorcyclist Hafiz Rahman, 28, said the subsidy has made a noticeable difference to his commuting costs from Rawang to Damansara for work each day.
He said the savings allowed him to stretch his monthly budget further.
Hafiz added that while Budi95 has eased fuel costs, he has to cope with other rising expenses.
“Petrol might be a bit cheaper now but food and rent keep going up.
It’s still a struggle to balance everything.”
