By Amanda L
KUCHING, June 24: The government has outlined special mechanisms to ensure river transport operators and rural communities dependent on diesel-powered generators in Sarawak and Sabah continue to receive subsidised fuel under the targeted diesel subsidy programme.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the measures were introduced to address the unique transportation and energy needs of communities in both states, where river travel and diesel-powered generators remain essential in many areas.
For river transport operators, he said state authorities would play a key role in identifying eligible recipients of the subsidy.
“For boat operators on the rivers, the State government takes an active role in ensuring they are given quotas.
“In Sarawak, the Sarawak Rivers Board identifies those who are eligible and submits the list to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and we will activate their MyKad,” he said during a press conference following a briefing on diesel subsidy rationalisation held here today.
He added that operators who find their allocated quota insufficient may submit proof of their diesel usage for further consideration by the State and federal governments.
“If the quota is not enough, they can show evidence of their fuel consumption and discuss it with both the State and federal governments,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the use of diesel-powered generators or gensets in remote communities, Amir said Resident Offices would be tasked with identifying authorised representatives to purchase subsidised diesel on behalf of longhouse residents.
“For longhouses that depend on gensets, the Resident Office will identify who the authorised representative is. That person’s IC will then be activated to purchase diesel at the subsidised rate,” he explained.
The mechanism is intended to ensure continued access to subsidised fuel for rural communities that rely on generators for electricity but may not own vehicles or hold driving licences.
Meanwhile, Amir said the government remained open to refining the targeted diesel subsidy mechanism as implementation progresses.
He noted that feedback received from stakeholders would continue to be assessed, similar to improvements previously made to other targeted subsidy programmes based on actual usage data and operational experience.
“We need to let the system run first and see whether it is effective. If there are gaps in the system, there is no problem in reviewing it.
“If there is anything that needs to be improved, the government remains committed to making those improvements,” he said. — DayakDaily
