Kuala lumpur: The Malaysian Media Clubs Association (GKMM) has urged the government to grant a special exemption for registered media practitioners, allowing them to maintain the previous monthly quota of 300 litres of RON95 petrol.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, GKMM expressed concerns over a recent change in the BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme, which decreased the monthly fuel quota from 300 litres to 200 litres per individual. This adjustment has created significant challenges for journalists, photographers, and videographers who rely on this fuel allocation to perform their duties effectively.

The association highlighted that media practitioners, particularly those based in various states, are facing difficulties as they often need to travel long distances for coverage. The reduced quota means that many exhaust their fuel allowance well before the month ends, impacting their ability to cover assignments thoroughly.

Furthermore, GKMM emphasized that reinstating the higher quota would alleviate operational hurdles and mitigate financial strains on media personnel, especially amid escalating living costs. The organization urged the government to consider these factors and restore the more substantial fuel allocation for media workers.

Effective from April 1, the BUDI95 programme revised the monthly quota to 200 litres due to ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. However, the subsidized price of RON95 remains unchanged at RM1.99 per litre.