BUDI Diesel eligibility can now be transferred to actual users

A car filling up diesel at a petrol station in Kuching. Photo credit: DayakDaily

By Karen Bong

KUCHING, Sept 16: Effective today, the federal government has expanded the transfer of Budi Diesel subsidy eligibility to any eligible Malaysian who is the actual user of a diesel vehicle.

Announcing the improvements to Budi Diesel subsidy, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the facility, previously limited to immediate family members, would now allow registered vehicle owners to transfer the eligibility to any eligible Malaysian citizen designated as the actual user of the vehicle.

“This means buyers who purchase vehicles through a ‘sambung bayar’ arrangement can enjoy the subsidy once the registered owner designates them as the actual user,” he said when delivering his speech at the National-Level Malaysia Day celebration at the Borneo Convention Centre Kuching (BCCK) here tonight.

Anwar said the improvement was made following concerns raised by lawmakers and ministers from Sabah and Sarawak, particularly involving owners of diesel-powered pickup trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles.

He said registered owners with more than one diesel vehicle would also be allowed to transfer the monthly eligibility for each vehicle to a maximum of three individuals, subject to the number of registered diesel vehicles owned.

“For example, if a father owns three diesel vehicles, the eligibility for one vehicle can be transferred to his wife and another to his child.

“Each actual user will receive the subsidy based on the vehicle used,” he said.

According to the Finance Ministry, the approved recipient will receive an individual monthly eligibility allocation that can be used to purchase subsidised RON95, subsidised diesel or a combination of both.

The transfer of eligibility does not involve any transfer of vehicle ownership.

Under the revised provisions, a registered owner may transfer eligibility to any Malaysian citizen with a valid MyKad who is eligible for Budi Madani RON95 (BUDI95), provided they are the designated actual user of the vehicle.

Once approved, the recipient can use their own MyKad to purchase subsidised diesel based on the diesel vehicle designated to them.

For eligible private diesel pickup trucks and four-wheel-drive vehicles, the registered owner may apply for an additional 100 litres of diesel per month, subject to the stipulated conditions, before transferring the eligibility.

The ministry said each eligible vehicle’s subsidy eligibility could only be transferred once and could not subsequently be transferred back to the registered owner or another individual, except under specific circumstances.

A recipient may also receive a transfer of eligibility from only one registered owner.

Applications under the new provisions can be made from today through the Budi Madani portal or physically at any Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (Hasil) office.

Applicants can also obtain information and assistance at nearby petrol stations.

To enable the eligibility to be used from the first day of the following month, applications must be submitted by the 27th of the current month.

Applications submitted by Sept 27, for example, will be processed for eligibility to be used from Oct 1, subject to data checks and verification.

The ministry said information submitted by applicants, including details of the registered owner, recipient and vehicle, would be cross-checked with records from relevant agencies before approval.

Transfer approvals made before Sept 16 remain final, while pending applications as of Sept 15 will be returned to applicants.

Registered owners who still wish to transfer their eligibility must submit a new application under the revised provisions.

Members of the public can check their eligibility and application status through the Budi Madani Portal at www.budimadani.gov.my. — DayakDaily