Kuala lumpur: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will explore suitable mechanisms to support island communities in Peninsular Malaysia that rely on private boats, particularly under the BUDI MADANI scheme.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh acknowledged the challenges faced by island residents who use boats for their daily travel to the mainland. She stated that the ministry would consider ways to extend specific assistance to this group, addressing their unique needs.

During a session in the Dewan Rakyat's Special Chamber, Dr Fuziah responded to Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing), who advocated for a higher BUDI95 petrol quota for island residents, including those in Mersing, Johor, due to their elevated petrol consumption.

In a related development, Dr Fuziah mentioned that the ministry is working on refining the standard operating procedures (SOP) to provide subsidised diesel fleet cards to old folks' homes registered under non-governmental organisations. These homes are currently excluded from the facility as they are not company-registered, despite having significant transport needs for welfare and elderly care.

"We're reviewing the SOP to see how we can approve them, because they are registered with the Registrar of Societies, not the Companies Commission. So we need an additional procedure," Dr Fuziah explained. She was addressing a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) regarding access to subsidised diesel under the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme (SKDS) for marginalised sectors, including tourism and construction.

Furthermore, Dr Fuziah noted that the tourism industry remains ineligible for diesel subsidies under SKDS 2.0, as the scheme currently prioritises essential sectors such as food.