By Mohd Khairy Abdullah
KOTA KINABALU, July 14 — The federal government should review the implementation of the BUDI Diesel programme by considering higher subsidised diesel quotas for those who depend on diesel-powered vehicles to earn a living, including single mothers, small traders and women entrepreneurs, the Women’s Chief of the United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (UPKO), Mohina Ronnie Sidom, said.
Mohina said the government’s decision to increase the subsidised quota to 300 litres for selected categories was a positive step, but remained insufficient for many users in Sabah who rely on diesel vehicles for their daily economic activities.
She said many women entrepreneurs in the state use four-wheel-drive vehicles and diesel vans to transport agricultural produce, operate small businesses and travel to rural markets, where fuel consumption is significantly higher due to long travel distances and challenging road conditions.
“Sabah’s geographical landscape, which involves long-distance travel, rural road networks and high logistics costs, requires a more flexible policy approach that reflects the realities faced by people in the state,” she said on Tuesday.
Mohina said the government should consider allocating additional subsidised quotas based on users’ actual needs and their dependence on diesel for income generation, rather than solely on vehicle type.
She said such an approach would ensure subsidies are directed to those who genuinely need them, particularly single mothers and women hawkers who shoulder the responsibility of supporting their families.
Mohina also welcomed the Finance Ministry’s commitment to continue monitoring the implementation of the BUDI Diesel programme and to make improvements based on public feedback.
She said the views of women, particularly micro-entrepreneurs and single mothers in Sabah and Sarawak, should be taken into account in any policy review, as they face logistical and mobility challenges that differ from those in Peninsular Malaysia.
The BUDI Diesel programme is part of the government’s targeted subsidy initiative aimed at providing diesel subsidies to eligible groups while reducing leakages in the country’s fuel subsidy system.
