Diesel purchase limit hurts rural users, says Sarawak rep

Telang Usang assemblyman Dennis Ngau says a 50-litre limit was sufficient only for a one-way trip from Miri to Long Bedian, and not for a return journey.

Dennis Ngau, assemblyman for Telang Usang, said those in rural areas should not be made to bear the brunt of a blanket policy.

He said travelling in rural Sarawak involved long distances and most often, a four-wheel drive vehicle was the only viable means of transport due to the rugged terrain and lack of proper roads.

A 50-litre purchase limit meant he could only travel from Miri to Long Bedian, a 120km journey.

“But that is not enough for a return trip. Furthermore, we in Baram do not have the luxury of calling a taxi or Grab, whose drivers are given preferential fuel subsidies,” the Borneo Post quoted him as saying.

Baram is the second-largest parliamentary constituency by area, covering over 22,000 sq km, or slightly bigger than the state of Perak.

Ngau said that while the federal government’s decision may be based on data and analysis, it should be balanced and not applied across the board.

The amount of diesel available for purchase in Sabah and Sarawak has been limited to 50 litres per purchase for light vehicles, 100 litres for public transport and goods vehicles under three tonnes, and 150 litres for vehicles above three tonnes.

The diesel price is currently RM2.15 per litre in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, less than half the Peninsular Malaysia price of RM5.52 per litre.

Last Thursday, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said the finance ministry was reviewing a proposed framework for implementing targeted diesel subsidies in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

Armizan said the mechanism, to take into account unique local conditions, will be discussed with the state governments.