A New Safeguard Against Abuse - The government has announced an important control measure for the BUDI95 subsidised petrol programme, which offers fuel at RM1.99 per litre. To prevent misuse, individuals will only be able to refuel once per day at the subsidised rate.

Finance Minister II, Amir Hamzah Azizan, explained that the system is designed so drivers cannot make multiple subsidised purchases in a single day. While the finer details of these controls are still being finalised, the aim is clear: to ensure that the subsidy benefits genuine motorists rather than being exploited for profit.

Monitoring and Tracking Fuel Purchases

Behind the scenes, the Finance Ministry is working with the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) as well as major oil companies to roll out monitoring tools. These systems will track refuelling patterns and quickly flag any suspicious activity.

This level of oversight isn't just about catching cheats—it's about protecting public funds and ensuring fairness. By knowing how and when people buy subsidised petrol, authorities can better enforce the rules while maintaining smooth access for ordinary drivers.

E-Hailing Drivers Get Special Consideration

One of the biggest questions raised around BUDI95 was how it would impact e-hailing drivers who rely heavily on petrol for their livelihoods. Typically, Malaysians are capped at 300 litres of subsidised fuel each month, but Amir Hamzah confirmed that e-hailing drivers will be exempted from this limit.

The system will be integrated with e-hailing platforms to verify genuine drivers. This way, those who clock long hours on the road can receive the extra allocation they need, while preventing abuse by people falsely claiming to be drivers.

Petrol Companies Ready for Rollout

To support these new controls, petrol companies have been upgrading their pumps and point-of-sale systems since late last year. According to Amir Hamzah, all companies are ready ahead of the 30 September rollout deadline.

That said, he urged the public to be patient as the system goes live nationwide. Like any major rollout, there may be "teething issues" in the early days, but motorists are assured that the infrastructure is now in place and operational.

The Bigger Picture

The once-per-day rule may feel restrictive at first glance, but it represents a balancing act between affordability and sustainability. Subsidies are costly to maintain, and without proper safeguards, they can easily be misused. By putting in place tracking systems, daily limits, and tailored rules for groups like e-hailing drivers, the government hopes to create a system that is both fair and efficient.

In short, the BUDI95 initiative is more than just cheaper petrol—it's part of a larger effort to make subsidies smarter, fairer, and better targeted to those who need them most.