KOTA KINABALU: July 21, 2026 – The implementation of the diesel subsidy in Sabah must take into account the state’s road conditions and public transport system, which remain unsatisfactory, said Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
He said the reliance of Sabah’s population on four-wheel-drive vehicles is not a matter of choice, but is driven by geographical factors, poor road conditions and a lack of public transport, particularly in rural and interior areas.
“We want to make noise about this diesel subsidy, but we need to study in depth what the root causes of the problem are,” he said during the debate on the 2026 Supplementary Supply Bill in the Sabah State Legislative Assembly today.
The Senallang assemblyman said the situation in Sabah is vastly different from countries such as Singapore and Thailand, which have more comprehensive road networks, public transport systems and railway services.
“Compare with Singapore, compare with Thailand – we rarely hear of them using four-wheel-drive vehicles. Why don’t they have them? Because they have good roads, they have transport systems, they have railways,” he said.
He also raised the issue of road conditions in several areas, including Kota Marudu and Kalabakan, which have been reported to be damaged due to the use of overloaded logging lorries.
Shafie questioned whether the returns from such economic activities are actually being used to improve basic facilities for the people in Sabah.
“Where are the proceeds that we can ensure are benefiting the people at the Sabah state level?” he asked.
According to him, the implementation of the diesel subsidy cannot be viewed in isolation; rather, it must take into account the underlying reasons why people rely on private vehicles – including the lack of public transport and the need to use vehicles suited to road conditions in certain areas.
Earlier, Kuamut State Assemblyman Datuk Masiung Banah proposed that the diesel subsidy quota for rural areas in Sabah be increased from 200 litres to 500 litres per month to cover the needs of long-distance travel, particularly in the interior.
The BUDI Diesel programme was implemented nationwide from 1 July, with eligible private diesel vehicle owners receiving a basic quota of 200 litres per month at a subsidised price of RM2.10 per litre.
