PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim says good policies must be able to adapt when circumstances call for it.
PKR Youth chief Kamil Munim said the youth wing understood the cut was introduced as a temporary measure amid ballooning fuel subsidy costs brought about by rising global oil prices but he argued that good policies must be able to adapt when necessary.
Speaking at the wing’s congress here, Kamil said if global oil prices decrease and the country’s fiscal position continues to improve, the government should raise the BUDI95 ceiling back to at least 300 litres a month, with an additional mechanism allowing up to 350 litres for groups with higher mobility and operational needs, such as long-distance commuters and those who depend on their vehicles to earn a living.
Kamil, who is Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s political secretary in his capacity as finance minister, argued that a targeted subsidy system does not have to mean a single fixed ceiling for everyone, saying the government already has the data to identify different usage patterns among recipients.
“We are not proposing unlimited subsidies. Neither are we proposing that the government abandon fiscal discipline. What we are asking for is a mechanism that is more responsive to the economic conditions of the people.
“In certain conditions, 200 litres may be reasonable. In other conditions, 300 litres may be more appropriate. For groups with special needs that have been verified through proper data, 350 litres or more could be considered. A good policy is one that is able to adjust to various circumstances.”
Kamil also proposed a periodic review mechanism linking the BUDI95 quota to global oil prices, the country’s fiscal position, and consumption patterns, rather than a fixed ceiling.
When the BUDI95 programme was first introduced to the public last October, Malaysian citizens aged 16 and above who possessed a valid driving licence could purchase up to 300 litres of RON95 petrol per month at the subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre.
However, in March, Anwar announced that the 300-litre monthly quota would be reduced to 200 litres as an interim measure in dealing with the impact of the Middle East conflict.
Earlier this month, finance minister II Amir Hamzah Azizan told the Dewan Negara that based on BUDI95 usage data from October 2025 to June 2026, fewer than 1% of BUDI95 users consistently used more than 200 litres of RON95 per month.
Eligible e-hailing and airport taxi drivers can receive up to 800 litres of subsidised petrol per month depending on their monthly mileage based on verified operational data.
Putrajaya has spent RM11.2 billion on RON95 fuel subsidies under the BUDI95 programme as of May 31. - FMT
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