By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, July 18: Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen has called on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to simplify and expedite the application process for commercial vehicle owners seeking access to subsidised diesel under the Budi Diesel targeted subsidy rationalisation programme.
Chong said the ministry, which is responsible for processing applications and determining eligibility for subsidised diesel, had introduced requirements that created unnecessary bureaucracy and prevented eligible vehicle owners from receiving their rightful entitlement.
“The purpose of the policy is simple: to accord this group of diesel-fuelled commercial vehicles their rightful entitlement to subsidised diesel.
“However, the criteria set by the ministry has created unnecessary red-tape and denied these people from receiving their rightful entitlement, causing significant inconvenience, frustration and dissatisfaction among commercial vehicle owner,” he said in a statement on Friday (July 17).
According to Chong, applicants are required to submit specific documentation from Puspakom and apply for modifications to their vehicle’s “Body Code” before they can proceed with their diesel subsidy application.
He added that once the Body Code has been amended, vehicle owners must also undergo mandatory inspections every six months before becoming eligible to apply for a diesel subsidy card.
“There is also a waiting period before applicants are notified whether their diesel subsidy card application has been approved or rejected,” he said of the delays in the approval process.
Chong pointed out that the Budi Diesel programme has been in effect since July 1, 2026, and that many commercial vehicle owners remain unable to access subsidised diesel more than two weeks after its implementation.
“Many vehicle owners who are supposed to have received their subsidised diesel are now being refused and rejected because of such unnecessary red tape,” he said.
The Democratic Action Party (DAP) Sarawak leader said the situation reflected poorly on the Madani government’s commitment to efficient service delivery.
“As a result, I called upon the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) to simply the application process and do away with the unnecessary documentation,” he urged.
Chong said he had also conveyed his concerns to Transport Minister Anthony Loke and requested that the matter be raised at a Cabinet meeting.
“We hope that this problem can be resolved in the shortest possible time,” he said. — DayakDaily
