KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 27 — The Petronas station in Taman Setiawangsa was already busy by 9 am today as cars and motorcycles streamed in, and the Kedai Mesra convenience store bustled with customers.
But all eyes were on the military and police personnel — the first group to use the government’s new Budi95 targeted petrol subsidy scheme.
The initial phase of the programme begins with members of the police and armed forces today, followed by Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients tomorrow. From September 30, it will be extended to all eligible Malaysians nationwide.
Corporal Hilmi Azlan from the Defence Ministry was among the early users. He filled his Yamaha LC with just RM1.10 worth of petrol — about half a litre — but said the process was smooth.
“If you use the app, it’s more detailed, easier, and you don’t need to go to the counter. Just now it took me less than five minutes,” he said.
Army personnel pump petrol using the Budi95 subsidy at a Petronas station in Kuala Lumpur September 27, 2025. — Picture by Firdaus Latif
Hilmi’s Setel app displayed both the amount of RON95 he had pumped and his remaining balance from the 300-litre monthly quota. If his phone battery were to run out, Hilmi said his grey military identification card could be used just as well at the counter or the pump.
Captain Zarith Ruslan from the Armed Forces Institute of Materiel Management Training (Insmat) also gave the scheme a try, filling up 15 litres worth RM30.75 for his silver Perodua Myvi while accompanied by his wife and two children.
“Easy!” he said after completing payment through the Setel app, which he has been using regularly even before today.
“For registration, it’s very simple, just enter your IC number, verify, and you can use it as usual,” he told Malay Mail.
Under Budi95, qualified Malaysians can purchase up to 300 litres of RON95 petrol a month at RM1.99 per litre. Any amount beyond that will be charged at the market price, currently RM2.60 per litre.
All Malaysian citizens with a valid driver’s licence are eligible for the subsidy. Based on Road Transport Department (JPJ) and National Registration Department (JPN) data, over 16 million people are expected to qualify.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had urged the public not to panic or rush when the Budi95 system is implemented nationwide on September 30.
He also said the server system is capable of processing 30,000 transactions per minute.
The public is advised to check their eligibility for the subsidised RON95 price at www.budimadani.gov.my
