Kota kinabalu: The monthly subsidised diesel quota for rural areas in Sabah should be increased from 200 litres to 500 litres to meet the needs of long-distance travel, particularly in the state's interior, the Sabah State Legislative Assembly was told today.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Masiung Banah (GRS-Kuamut) highlighted that the current 200-litre quota is insufficient for rural areas such as Kuamut, where residents and elected representatives must travel for hours to reach urban centres to attend to various matters. Masiung explained that a round trip from Kuamut to Kota Kinabalu takes six to seven hours, and the current quota would be exhausted in just one such journey.

Masiung, who chairs the Sabah State Legislative Assembly Backbenchers Group, made these comments during the winding-up debate of the Supplementary Supply Bill 2026 at the state assembly sitting. He emphasized that the implementation of the targeted diesel subsidy should consider the different circumstances between urban and rural areas, particularly in terms of travel distance, terrain, and area size.

While acknowledging the Federal Government's challenges in restructuring fuel subsidies for the benefit of the country and its people, Masiung stressed the importance of not overlooking the needs of rural communities. He urged the Federal Government and the monitoring committee formed by the state government to consider increasing the diesel quota for rural areas from 200 litres to 500 litres.

The BUDI Diesel programme, implemented nationwide from July 1, provides eligible private diesel vehicle owners a basic subsidised quota of 200 litres per month at RM2.10 per litre. Additionally, eligible owners of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) and pickup trucks may apply for an extra 100 litres per month.