MORE than 5,500 applications from Sabah to transfer BUDI Diesel subsidy eligibility to actual vehicle users have been approved, as the government adjusts the scheme to accommodate vehicle-use arrangements common in the state.
Deputy Finance Minister Liew Chin Tong told the Dewn Rakyat today that 5,555 of the 19,008 approved applications nationwide as at Oct 12 were from Sabah, following an expansion of the transfer mechanism on Sept 16.
Under the revised arrangement, eligible registered owners can transfer their entitlement to another Malaysian citizen who has a valid MyKad, qualifies for BUDI95 and is the actual user of the diesel vehicle.
Liew said the change addresses situations in Sabah where vehicles are used by family members or employees rather than registered owners, as well as “sambung bayar” arrangements in which buyers continue paying instalments without formally transferring ownership.
“Sambung bayar” is often an informal arrangement in which the buyer takes possession of the vehicle and continues paying the existing owner’s monthly hire-purchase instalments.
Separately, 52,133 pickup and jeep owners in Sabah had been approved for an additional 100 litres of subsidised diesel monthly as at Oct 12, bringing their potential monthly entitlement to 400 litres.
The additional allocation recognises the role of these vehicles in transporting agricultural produce and small-business goods, moving workers and travelling to rural and remote areas with challenging terrain.
Eligible Malaysians receive a basic monthly allocation of 300 litres under BUDI MADANI Diesel, with subsidised diesel priced at RM2.10 a litre through MyKad verification at petrol stations. The allocation can also be used for subsidised RON95, subject to the remaining monthly entitlement.
Owners of more than one privately owned diesel vehicle may transfer eligibility to up to three other individuals, subject to the number of vehicles owned and eligibility checks.
Eligible pickup and jeep owners may apply for the additional 100 litres before transferring their entitlement, subject to the scheme’s conditions.
Liew added that the government would continue reviewing the scheme using fuel-consumption data, public feedback, state government input and the needs of affected sectors to improve access and fairness while preventing subsidy leakage and abuse. - October 22, 2026