Kuala lumpur: After security forces personnel and B40 Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients, 16 million eligible Malaysians today began enjoying subsidised petrol under the Budi MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) initiative.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, members of the public, excited over the reduced petrol price of RM1.99 per litre, shared their reactions, with the majority welcoming the government’s move and expressing appreciation for the special assistance. In Kedah, checks at a petrol station in Kota Sarang Semut, near Alor Setar, found that users turned up as early as 6.30 am to fill up to avoid congestion and to more easily obtain assistance from station staff while there were still few customers.

Station staff were also seen helping customers complete transactions smoothly and quickly, whether at the pump or the counter, using their identity cards. A retiree, Azemi Ahmad, 63, from Kampung Jawa, said the implementation of BUDI95 was very good as it ensured that only those eligible could purchase fuel at the lower rate of RM1.99 per litre.

In Selangor, a p-hailing worker, Syafik Judin, 32, said the BUDI95 system runs smoothly and is very easy to use with the help of tutorials available on social media. An engineer, Nadhirah Mokhtaruddin, 32, said she was not very familiar with the BUDI95 system as it was her first time using it, but with the help of petrol station staff, the process was completed quickly.

Meanwhile, Petron Setia Alam supervisor Mohd Syazwan Mohd Hairi said as of 9 am today, operations at his station were running smoothly, although there had been a minor technical issue at midnight due to the system being rather busy. In Putrajaya, R. Asha, 40, said the programme is especially beneficial for Malaysians who are enjoying targeted petrol subsidies for the first time.

For Abdul Rahim Idris, 63, the first-day experience was somewhat daunting when the pump price did not reflect the subsidised rate even though his identity card had been verified. A 21-year-old youth who only wanted to be known as Yong said the subsidy makes it easier for young people like him to manage their daily expenses.

In Johor, senior citizen Lee Abdul Rahman, 61, said he had updated the app on his mobile phone earlier in the morning before heading to the petrol station to enjoy BUDI95, but admitted feeling a little awkward using it for the first time. Retiree Marzuki Abdullah, 62, who pays in cash, also acknowledged that BUDI95 helps ease his family’s burden, allowing him to use the savings for other needs.

In Melaka, fig farm operator Bakhtiar Aliff Ibrahim, 40, said BUDI95 would cut his monthly petrol expenses by about 20 to 25 percent. In Terengganu, a civil servant who commutes daily from Kampung Bukit, Setiu, to work in Kuala Terengganu expects to save about RM100 monthly through the BUDI95 initiative.

In Pahang, bank clerk Hisyam Mahmud, 45, said the 300-liter monthly subsidy is very helpful, but hoped the amount would be reviewed and increased in the future. In Penang, self-employed Nurul Huda Abu Bakar, 40, said the refueling process went smoothly, and the government’s move to require users to scan their identity card before filling petrol was the right step as it prevents foreigners from enjoying the subsidy.

In Perak, lawyer Arthur Yeong, 64, said redeeming the RON95 subsidy today was easy and took only a short time, while clearly showing price savings. In Perlis, checks at a petrol station in Kangar found that most users were already accustomed to using their identity cards to enjoy the BUDI95 benefit.

In Kuching, a canteen worker at SK Gersik, Rozilawati Abdul Rani, 45, praised the MADANI Government’s initiative for preventing subsidy leakages to irresponsible parties while allowing the people to enjoy stable prices without worrying about market fluctuations. In Sabah, private-sector worker Lailawati Ramlee, 40, said the scheme made her feel privileged as a Malaysian, being able to enjoy RON95 subsidies while other countries raised their fuel prices.

In Kelantan, Ahmad Fauzi, 42, from Tumpat said BUDI95 greatly helps small traders like him, especially when fuel prices rise and operating costs increase. In Negeri Sembilan, cook Muhammad Daniel, 23, who works in Singapore, said Malaysians are fortunate the government does not leave them to bear high fuel prices like in other countries.