26/09/2025

FRIDAY | SEPT 26, 2025

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PM briefs King on pressing issues

Budi95 initiative seen as catalyst for licensing reform

PETALING JAYA: His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, granted an audience to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at Istana Bukit Tunku, Kuala Lumpur yesterday where he was briefed on several pressing national issues. One of the main issues raised was the RON95 petrol subsidy under the Budi95 initiative launched by the Finance Ministry. Under the initiative, the price of RON95 has been subsidised to RM1.99 per litre. The government expects savings of between RM2.5 billion and RM4 billion per year through the removal of blanket subsidies. Officials said the initiative is intended not only to shield vulnerable groups from rising living costs but also to free up national resources for healthcare, education and public transport. Budi95 will be rolled out in phases, starting with 300,000 members of the armed forces and police this Saturday. On Sunday it will be extended to B40 recipients currently receiving the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah cash aid. By Tuesday next week ( Sept 30) the subsidy will cover about 16 million Malaysians aged 16 and above who hold a valid MyKad and driving licence. Under Budi95, eligible individuals are entitled to a monthly quota of up to 300 litres of subsidised RON95 petrol. E-hailing drivers, however, are exempt from this cap and may apply for a larger quota. Malaysians can now check their eligibility for the fuel subsidy via the official Budi95 portal. Motorists can also opt to pay for the subsidised fuel using the Touch ‘n Go eWallet. By completing the electronic-Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification in the app, users can buy fuel through a dedicated Budi95 function without presenting their MyKad at the pump. The system lets motorists select a station, enter pump details and amount, generate a QR code and receive automatic refunds for any unused balance. Anwar also updated His Majesty on preparations for the upcoming 47th Asean Summit, which will be hosted in Kuala Lumpur next month. The summit is expected to gather Southeast Asian leaders for discussions on regional cooperation, economic growth and pressing geopolitical challenges facing the Asean bloc. No location in M’sia used as Hamas training base: Zahid BANGI: Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday reiterated that no location in Malaysia serves or has served as a training base for Hamas, not even during his time as home minister. He said the police, especially the Special Branch, continuously monitors all security aspects at every level nationwide. “There is absolutely no such base, let alone one for Hamas. This allegation has been refuted by the inspector-general of police recently. “We have a dedicated counter-terrorism monitoring unit under the police Special Branch, known as E9. “Even when I was the home minister, police have always conducted such surveillance and it is impossible for Malaysia to be used as a Hamas base,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysia France Institute yesterday. The police on Wednesday denied allegations by former US Treasury terrorism finance analyst Jonathan Schanzer that Malaysia was serving as a hub for Hamas operations. IGP Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail said the Palestinian struggle was an issue close to the hearts of Malaysians, but the country continued to maintain good relations with the United States and other nations. Schanzer, via his social media account, had alleged that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was not interested in peace between Palestine and Israel. – Bernama Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE AND FAIZ RUZMAN newsdesk@thesundaily.com

the years. “In fact, skipping road tax and insurance renewals has been normalised due to weak enforcement. It is also not a big secret that many owners of luxury vehicles, including high-powered motorcycles, have never had a valid driving licence.” He said the problem worsened after RTD and the Transport Ministry adopted digital systems that removed the need for physical road tax stickers. On Wednesday, RTD revealed that 2.4 million of the country’s 15 million licence holders no longer have active licences, while 925,421 have expired for less than three years. “Budi95 is seen as a headstart for the government to draft a new law to ensure anyone who wants to own a motorised vehicle must have a valid driving or riding licence,” Shahrim said. Universiti Putra Malaysia Road Safety Research Centre head Assoc Prof Dr Law Teik Hua agreed linking the subsidy to valid licences could reduce the number of uninsured road users. He said restricting subsidised fuel to those with proper documentation creates a monetary incentive for compliance. “The programme will likely push more lower and middle-income drivers to renew their licences, road tax and insurance, as losing access to subsidised petrol would cost them more than the renewal itself. Yet it may have limitations among richer segments or informal operators outside cities, where compliance issues tend to be more structural, such as difficulty accessing licensing offices or affording insurance premiums.” Law said Budi95 could be a stepping stone towards stricter regulations. “To maximise impact, the policy must be supported by enforcement and awareness campaigns, with road checks and community partnerships helping to curb uninsured or underage riders and make compliance a social norm. “With less expensive fuel becoming increasingly difficult to obtain without documentation, it effectively raises the deterrent for underage riders or those without valid licences who frequently depend on motorcycles in townships. Although not necessarily a solution in itself, alongside community-level education and enforcement, this policy would ideally act to deter risky driving behaviours that are primarily responsible for road accidents.” Ministry, available on the official portal www.budi95.gov.my. “I have also asked the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission team to notify all National Information Dissemination Centre managers to thoroughly study the FAQ. “The government wants to ensure that only Malaysian citizens benefit from the initiative.” He added that questions regarding data use, the reason for using Touch ‘n Go as the server and other concerns are all addressed in the FAQ, which spans over 36 pages. Last Monday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced a reduction in the price of RON95 petrol to RM1.99 per litre from RM2.05 per litre under Budi95. – Bernama

o Analysts say it could encourage more motorists to renew documents, pay fines and obtain insurance, in shift that could improve road safety and enforcement

PETALING JAYA: The rollout of the Budi95 fuel subsidy at the end of this month could indirectly push errant motorists to renew their licences and settle summonses in order to qualify for lower RON95 prices, road safety experts said. Road safety and sustainable transport activist Shahrim Tamrim called the initiative a potential turning point in addressing unlicensed driving and weak enforcement. He said it could be a catalyst for laws requiring a valid licence before vehicle ownership. “If the new era of petrol subsidy rationalisation runs smoothly in line with the robust Road Transport Department (RTD) database in the next 24 months, we can expect ripple effects against stubborn groups, including the T15 category (the wealthy group), who will be forced to ensure that their Ű BY QIRANA NABILLA MOHD RASHIDI newsdesk@thesundaily.com

driving licences and road tax are valid.” He added that if the government leverages the Budi95 rollout with RTD and police data under the upcoming Kejara system, motorists could be prompted to clear an estimated RM500 million in unpaid traffic summonses before reactivating their licences to qualify for the subsidised fuel. “For decades in Malaysia, people without a driving or riding licence have been able to buy cars or motorcycles freely, whether in cash or on loan. There has never been a requirement to show a valid licence, making it common for unlicensed individuals to own anything from a kapcai motorcycle to luxury cars and SUVs.” He said in small towns, rural areas and plantations, parents without licences often buy motorcycles for children as young as 12 to ride daily. As a result, Bukit Aman Traffic statistics show thousands of children and teenagers have died in motorcycle accidents over

The RON95 petrol subsidy is for Malaysians aged 16 and above with a valid MyKad and an active driving licence. – AMIRUL SYAFIQ/THESUN

Ministries collaborate to ensure dissemination of accurate information on fuel subsidy

PUTRAJAYA: The Communications Ministry is working closely with the Finance Ministry and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to ensure that oil companies nationwide provide accurate information on the implementation of Budi95 to customers at their petrol stations. Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said this is important to make it easy for the general public to access verified information at the petrol stations when the subsidy programme officially rolls out. “I have also requested the Finance Ministry to invite TikTok users, influencers, website operators and others interested in obtaining accurate information to attend a briefing session. This includes our partners within the Unity government to ensure everyone

is well-informed. “We are also committed to delivering accurate information regarding any concerns raised to the general public through mass media and social media channels. This is part of the ministry’s ongoing efforts,” he said at the Communications Ministry’s monthly assembly yesterday. Also present were Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching and secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa, as well as Bernama CEO Datin Paduka Nurul Afida Kamaludin. Fahmi further explained that agencies such as the Information Department and the Community Communications Department have been tasked with reviewing and understanding the frequently asked questions (FAQ) prepared by the Finance