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A car filling up diesel at a petrol station in Kuching. Photo credit: DayakDailyAdvertisement
By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, June 28: Mas Gading MP Mordi Bimol has urged the federal government to raise the monthly subsidised diesel quota for Sarawak to 500 litres and expand eligibility under the Subsidised Diesel Control System (SKDS) before the Budi Madani diesel subsidy rationalisation takes full effect on July 1.
Saying the current quota does not reflect Sarawak’s geographical realities, Mordi warned that the policy, if left unchanged, could place unnecessary pressure on rural households, smallholders and the State’s construction sector.
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In a media statement, he said the existing allocation of 200 litres, with an additional 100 litres for pickup trucks and jeeps, may be appropriate for Peninsular Malaysia’s urban landscape but falls short of meeting the needs of Sarawak.
“In areas such as Mas Gading and other rural parts of Sarawak, travelling long distances across challenging terrain is a necessity, not a luxury.
“Increasing the monthly quota to 500 litres for each diesel vehicle in Sarawak would significantly reduce inflationary pressure on households and smallholders,” he said.
Besides increasing the quota, Mordi called on Putrajaya to include tipper lorries and concrete mixer trucks under the SKDS Fleet Card scheme.
He said excluding these vehicles would likely drive up construction material prices and increase infrastructure development costs in Sarawak, where logistics already contribute to higher operating expenses.
“Extending fleet card eligibility to these critical heavy vehicles is necessary to protect the continuity of rural development projects,” he said.
Mordi, who is also the Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports, stressed that while he supports national reforms under the MADANI government, policies should be adapted to suit Sarawak’s unique geographical and logistical conditions.
“Every national policy should be implemented in harmony with the realities of life on the ground,” he said.
He urged the relevant ministries and agencies to consider the proposals before the subsidy rationalisation is fully implemented on July 1.
“By adopting an approach based on the realities on the ground, we can ensure the Budi Madani scheme achieves its fiscal objectives without compromising the welfare, livelihoods and development of the people of Sarawak,” he added. — DayakDaily
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