GEORGE TOWN, Sept 23 — The government will implement additional safeguards to prevent misuse of the new targeted RON95 petrol subsidy, including monitoring individuals who fill up multiple times a day, Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said today.
His assurance comes after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced yesterday that the price of RON95 petrol will be reduced to RM1.99 per litre for eligible Malaysians starting Sept 30 under the BUDI95 programme.
“The mechanism will not allow individuals to repeatedly refuel in a single day under the BUDI95 programme,” Amir Hamzah said after launching the Mega e-Invoice Roadshow 2025 here.
He added that full details of these control mechanisms will be announced later.
Amir Hamzah also addressed concerns, raised by former economy minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, about potential leakages involving e-hailing and p-hailing drivers.
He explained that a flexible system is in place for these groups, who depend heavily on fuel for their income.
“We have a mechanism for additional applications for e-hailing and p-hailing drivers,” he said.
“They can apply with supporting documentation from their respective companies to confirm that they are genuinely active,” he said, adding that applications will be verified based on their usage records in the system as well as data from the companies.
This approach, he said, will enable the government to control leakages while ensuring those who genuinely need a higher quota receive it.
When asked if petrol stations were fully prepared for the nationwide rollout at the end of this month, Amir Hamzah expressed confidence, stating that the system has been ready for some time.
“The government has been working with petrol stations since the end of last year to ensure all systems run smoothly,” he said, adding that nearly all petrol companies have tested the Outdoor Payment Terminal (OPT) system that will allow Malaysians to directly enjoy the subsidy at the pump.
“I am confident that preparations are sufficient,” he stated, while acknowledging that no system is perfect and minor disruptions might occur during the initial stage.
