Kuala lumpur: The temporary adjustment of the monthly purchase limit for the Budi MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) petrol programme is a strategic and proactive step towards safeguarding national resources and ensuring subsidy integrity, an academician said.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Faculty of Human Ecology senior lecturer Dr Mohd Amim Othman stated that the government's decision to adjust the limit to 200 litres from 300 litres per month was a calculated move aimed at curbing leakages and addressing long-standing fuel smuggling at border areas. He noted that the measure remained consumer-friendly as it allowed flexibility within households, with individuals consuming more than 200 litres potentially utilizing the unused quota of other family members.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the individual monthly limit for the purchase of BUDI95 would be temporarily adjusted to 200 litres per month from 300 litres per month, effective April 1, following the ongoing conflict in West Asia. However, the subsidised RON95 price will remain unchanged at RM1.99 per litre.
Mohd Amim described the decision to retain the 800-litre fuel quota for e-hailing drivers as a practical step, given the group's heavy reliance on fuel to generate income. He emphasized that the subsidy acts as direct economic support and suggested that the government could leverage accurate consumption data from e-hailing companies to implement more data-driven policies. He further proposed introducing a special pricing mechanism for RON97 for foreign vehicles, particularly in border areas such as Johor and the northern Peninsular, to prioritize local consumers.
Commenting on criticism and anti-government narratives from certain quarters, Mohd Amim stated that they did not reflect the broader reality of the nation's economic resilience. He asserted that compared to many neighboring countries, Malaysia remained relatively stable in managing fuel price pressures and the overall cost of living.
Meanwhile, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Faculty of Economics and Muamalat professor Dr Nuradli Ridzwan Shah suggested that the government implement price monitoring to prevent any parties from taking advantage of the situation, particularly through profiteering involving essential goods. He also welcomed the government's plan to introduce more flexible working arrangements, including working from home, for civil servants to reduce the impact of global oil supply disruptions. Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, mentioned that this measure would be implemented in phases and on a selective basis, and urged the private sector to adopt similar work-from-home arrangements.