By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, March 26: The reduction of the subsidised RON95 fuel quota from 300 litres to 200 litres per month under BUDI MADANI RON95 (BUDI95) has been described as unfair to Sarawak and out of touch with on-the-ground realities.
Sarawak United Peoples’ Party (SUPP) Stakan branch chairman Dato Sim Kiang Chiok said the move would disproportionately affect Sarawakians, given the State’s lack of a comprehensive public transportation system.
“Sarawak has no viable or comprehensive public transport alternative, making private vehicle use a necessity.
“Due to our vast geography and dispersed communities, many Sarawakians travel beyond 2,500 kilometres monthly – which the proposed 200-litre quota will not be sufficient for – for work, education, healthcare, and daily needs.
“A reduction in fuel quota will force them to pay market prices, significantly increasing their cost of living,” he said in a statement today.
He also warned that the impact would ripple across the broader economy.
“Higher transportation and logistics costs will be passed on, leading to higher prices of goods and services throughout Sarawak and Malaysia,” he added.
Sim further highlighted Sarawak’s role as a major oil and gas producing State contributing significantly to national revenue.
“It is therefore only fair that Sarawakians benefit from this resource,” he said.
He stressed that the windfall profits of Petroliam Nasional Berhad (PETRONAS)—especially during periods of high global oil prices—should be channelled to sustain fuel subsidies for all Sarawakians, rather than reducing existing support.
“A one-size-fits-all federal policy is unacceptable. We call for the immediate reconsideration of this move and the implementation of a Sarawak-specific fuel subsidy mechanism that reflects our unique realities and rightful share of national resources,” he emphasised. — DayakDaily
