KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 4 — The Malaysian government has expanded the reach of its BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) programme by increasing the monthly fuel quota for eligible e-hailing drivers to 800 litres, while also extending eligibility to airport taxis under the Subsidised Petrol Control Scheme (SKPS).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the decision followed consultations with driver associations and reflected real-world fuel usage data.
In October, the quota was temporarily raised to 600 litres, assisting about 58,000 active e-hailing drivers. The new adjustment, he said, recognises the role of gig economy drivers in maintaining essential mobility services.
Presenting updated figures in Parliament, Anwar said 13.1 million Malaysians benefited from subsidised RON95 fuel last month, costing RM2.6 billion, with RM800 million in direct government subsidies.
“Average consumption among BUDI95 recipients is around 98 litres per month — only a third of the 300-litre entitlement. Fewer than 1 per cent used their full allocation,” he said.
Nearly 24,000 unlicensed but registered river boat operators have also been approved for the subsidy scheme.
Explaining why BUDI95 remains universal, Anwar said narrowing it to specific income tiers like T15 would complicate enforcement and exclude many upper-middle households.
“Raising the ceiling to RM50,000 per month would capture very few people, while enforcement costs would increase. We’ll refine the system once it’s more stable,” he added.
Addressing trade-related concerns, Anwar said the government continues to monitor the impact of US tariffs on Malaysian export logistics and transport costs, noting that sectors like semiconductors and palm oil remain largely protected under new trade concessions.
Malaysia’s Reciprocal Trade Agreement with the United States reduced average tariffs from 25% to 19%, granting broader market access for key export industries.