KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 14 — A total of 52,133 owners of diesel vehicles such as pickups and sport utility vehicles (SUVs) in Sabah have been approved for an additional 100 litres of diesel under the Budi Madani Diesel (Budi Diesel) programme as of October 12, 2026, said the Ministry of Finance (MoF).
The ministry said the additional eligibility criteria take into account the higher diesel consumption needs, particularly among rural residents, small traders, farmers and those who use diesel vehicles to generate income.
In addition, a total of 19,008 Budi Diesel eligibility transfer applications have been approved, with 5,555 of them involving applicants from Sabah.
MoF noted that the government implemented the diesel subsidy targeting reform through Budi Diesel in phases beginning June 27, 2026, before expanding its implementation nationwide on July 1, 2026.
The ministry said this in response to a question from Vivian Wong Shir Yee (Sandakan-PH) regarding the diesel subsidy mechanism in Sabah in a written answer published on the Parliament’s website yesterday.
For users other than individual vehicle owners, MoF said the government also considers the needs of certain groups that rely on diesel for daily use, including boat operators as well as users of electric generators (gensets) and water pumps in rural areas.
It pointed out that these groups could be considered for Budi Diesel assistance through the MyKad mechanism, subject to eligibility requirements and verification by the state government and relevant agencies, such as district offices, resident offices or designated state agencies.
The measure aims to ensure that groups that truly rely on diesel to meet their daily needs do not miss out on receiving assistance.
“The government will continue to monitor the implementation of BUDI Diesel based on usage data, user feedback, input from the state government and the needs of the sectors involved.
“Any improvements will be refined through data so that diesel subsidies can be channelled more easily, fairly, in a more targeted and sustainable manner to users who truly qualify, without opening up opportunities for leakage or abuse of subsidies,” MoF added. — Bernama