BUDI95: AUTOMATIC ADDITIONAL FUEL QUOTA FOR ACTIVE E-HAILING DRIVERS PROPOSED

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 (Bernama) -- The government has been urged to consider granting an automatic additional quota of 300 litres of subsidised petrol under the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) initiative for active e-hailing drivers holding both a Public Service Vehicle (PSV) licence and an E-Hailing Vehicle Permit (EVP).

Chiew Choon Man (PH–Miri) said there were implementation gaps that needed to be addressed to ensure targeted subsidies are channelled effectively to eligible groups, particularly those who rely on e-hailing as their main source of income.

He said the current quota review mechanism for e-hailing drivers’ fuel usage allegedly does not consider factors such as trip cancellations, traffic congestion and the distance travelled to passenger pick-up points.

“I propose that drivers holding both PSV and EVP be automatically granted an additional 300 litres under BUDI95, bringing the monthly quota for active e-hailing drivers to 600 litres,” he said during the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget 2026) in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Earlier, the government announced that eligibility for additional fuel quota under the BUDI95 initiative for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers would be determined based on their fuel consumption levels.

Meanwhile, Datuk Seri Aminuddin Harun (PH–Port Dickson) said overall annual savings of more than RM15 billion from the implementation of targeted subsidies represent a major success in efforts to strengthen the country’s financial management with integrity and a focus on public welfare.

He said the revenue and savings generated could enhance the government’s capacity to finance public programmes, including Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR), Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (SARA) and additional allocations for low-income states without taking on new debt.

The issue of targeted subsidy implementation was also raised by other Members of Parliament, including Hassan Abdul Karim (PH–Pasir Gudang) and Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN–Tampin), who emphasised the need for further improvements to ensure aid reaches its intended recipients and to prevent leakages.

Hassan also proposed that the government introduce a wealth tax on ultra-rich individuals and billionaires in Malaysia to boost national revenue without burdening low-income citizens.

He said the proposal was consistent with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s stance that taxing the poor would be immoral.

“The time has come for the wealthy to be taxed, either through a wealth tax or capital tax. The definition of millionaire here refers to Malaysians with assets worth at least US$1 million, not RM1 million,” he said.

He said the proposal warranted consideration as the number of millionaires in Malaysia, based on global asset values, continues to rise, with 85,126 individuals recorded in 2022, projected to reach 164,839 by 2027.

Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Alice Lau Kiong Yieng, before adjourning the sitting, said 159 Members of Parliament had participated in the debate on Budget 2026, which concluded today, with the ministerial winding-up session to begin tomorrow for four days.

The sitting resumes tomorrow.

-- BERNAMA