TAMBUNAN: June 29, – The federal government has been urged to review the 200-litre quota under the BUDI Diesel programme, which takes effect on 1 July, with calls for Sabah’s unique geography and fuel consumption needs to be taken into account.
Datuk Victor P. Paut, head of the Tambunan division of Parti Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (PGRS), said the fixed quota was inappropriate and insufficient for Sabah, given the state’s vast terrain, scattered settlements and challenging road networks, all of which result in higher diesel consumption.
“Sabah’s geographical conditions are very different from the peninsula. Residents have to travel long distances, while many areas can only be accessed using four-wheel-drive vehicles, which inevitably leads to greater diesel usage,” he said after presenting a RM1,000 contribution to the Bondulu Children’s Home on Saturday.
According to Mr Victor, the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles in Sabah is not a choice but a long-standing necessity, due to hilly, uneven roads, some of which have yet to be upgraded. Beyond personal use, many small-scale entrepreneurs, farmers and rural residents also depend on diesel for their economic activities.
“I hope the federal government will review the 200-litre BUDI Diesel quota for Sabah, as that amount may not be sufficient to meet the actual needs of the people in this region,” he said.
The government previously set the subsidised diesel price at RM2.10 per litre nationwide from 1 July, with a base quota of 200 litres per month. However, eligible pickup truck and SUV owners in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan may apply for an additional 100 litres, bringing their total entitlement to 300 litres per month.
When asked about claims by some quarters that the recent drop in diesel prices was merely “election candy”, Mr Victor dismissed the notion. He explained that fuel price changes were influenced by global crude oil market trends and international geopolitical factors, rather than political motives.
“This is not election candy, nor is it a seasonal populist measure. Rather, it is largely influenced by current developments on the international stage, including changing situations in the Middle East which affect global oil supply and prices,” he said.
He also referred to the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran to halt conflict, which has reopened the Strait of Hormuz and eased constraints on oil supply.
Previously, various parties – including Upko Putatan division chief Jason Lee and Sabah DAP chairman Phoong Jin Zhe – had also urged the government to increase the BUDI Diesel quota for Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, citing geographical factors and differing travel patterns.
