ALOR STAR: Diesel vehicle users in Kedah border towns have benefited from the federal government's Budi Madani cash aid programmes following the diesel subsidy cuts effective today.
Checks at fuel stations in Bukit Kayu Hitam and Kuala Nerang found that diesel vehicle users have utilised the targeted subsidy mechanism to avoid incurring extra costs.
Authorities were also seen inspecting Thailand-registered vehicle drivers who were filling up their vehicles with diesel.
Commercial trailer driver, Deventheren Parasuraman, 50, said his employers have already obtained fleet cards after receiving the Subsidised Diesel Regulation System (SKDS) approval to continue enjoying diesel subsidies from the government.
"My boss has told me to just fuel up as usual. We have been briefed about the subsidy cuts, but our business is not affected," he said when met at a fuel station in Bukit Kayu Hitam here today.
Deventheren acknowledged that others who were unable to obtain the cash aid distribution would be affected by the subsidy cuts.
"If anyone has a private lorry or pick-up, it's tough because the fuel has increased by over RM1. This lorry's fuel tank holds 350 liters. Previously, it cost over RM700 to fill up, but today it costs over RM1,000, so individuals are indeed impacted," he added
Meanwhile, 64-year-old Thai man Ban Alai You said the price hike today did not deter him from fuelling up in Bukit Kayu Hitam.
"I'm allowed to fuel up here, so it's much better because in Thailand, diesel prices have increased by 15 to 17 baht (about RM2) in the past few days. Diesel is very expensive there. I think Malaysians are very fortunate," said the workshop owner while being checked by authorities.
Meanwhile, Mohd Faiz Farouk, 33, who provides home moving services, said that after finding out that his peers benefited from the Budi Madani initiative yesterday, he quickly applied for the aid.
Farouk, who is from Kuala Nerang, said he failed to receive proper information on the registration of the Budi Madani initiative.
"I only heard about the cash-aid programme yesterday from my friends. So I quickly applied for it. I haven't received anything yet so far, but I'm sure that I will get the aid and this will be a major help," he said.
Meanwhile, retired civil servant, Mukhtar Majid, 60, said he accepts that he wasn't eligible to receive the Budi Madani individual programme RM200 cash aid.
"I applied for it, but unfortunately, it was rejected because my annual household income was over RM100,000," said Mukhtar, who drives a pickup for his small agricultural business.
He said he would reapply for the cash aid under the Budi Madani Agri-commodity programme in the future.
"I understand that this is part of the targeted subsidy policies proposed by the government. Hopefully, it turns out to be a well-calculated move," he added.
Yesterday, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan announced that the price of diesel at all retail stations in the peninsula is set at RM3.35 per litre effective 12.01am on June 10.
He said this is the unsubsidised market price based on the May 2024 average, according to the Automatic Pricing Mechanism formula.
The fixed price and implementation of targeted diesel subsidy would see the government save RM4 billion per year, besides strengthening the country's financial position in the long run