MBKS Mayor: Budi Diesel quota insufficient, policy must reflect Sarawak’s ground realities

Wee discussing Budi Diesel issue during his ShallWeeTalk live session on June 27, 2026.

By Karen Bong

KUHCING, June 27: The Budi Diesel subsidy initiative, set for nationwide implementation on July 1, should give special consideration to Sarawak by adopting a higher and more flexible quota that reflects the region’s unique rural geography, logistics demands, and plantation-driven economy.

Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Mayor Wee Hong Seng emphasised that many Sarawakians depend on diesel vehicles not as a luxury, but as a necessity for daily life and livelihoods, including commuting for work, farming activities, construction work, and business operations.

To illustrate the ground reality, he cited his driver’s daily commute between Serian and Kuching for work.

“And after work, he has to go back to Serian. And the wife also commutes daily to Kuching for work. Another example is the travel routes from Senadin to Miri or Kuala Baram to Miri. You don’t know where it is, right? But I’ve been there. Do you think 200 litres is enough?

“The 200-litre monthly subsidised diesel quota may not reflect actual needs in Sarawak. You cannot compare consumption here with Peninsular Malaysia,” he said during his ShallWeeTalk live session today.

He pointed out that Sarawak’s vast landmass, long travel distances, and limited public transport system mean diesel dependency is significantly higher, particularly outside urban centres.

Although eligible owners of diesel-powered vehicles can apply for an additional 100-litre allocation per month, Wee stressed that the system must remain flexible to reflect real usage patterns on the ground.

He also highlighted that diesel is a critical input across multiple sectors, including construction, logistics, transport, agriculture, plantations, quarrying, and manufacturing.

Any increase in diesel costs, he warned, would inevitably ripple through the economy, pushing up inflation and increasing the cost of living.

“If diesel cost rises, business costs rise. Eventually, ordinary Sarawakians will feel the pressure through higher prices of goods, services, building materials, and housing,” he said.

Wee stressed that both Sabah and Sarawak require special consideration under the policy, calling for a higher, more realistic, and more flexible quota structure tailored to local conditions.

He reiterated that the issue is not opposition to subsidy rationalisation, but ensuring reforms are fair and practical across regions with vastly different realities.

“We are not rejecting reform. We are not opposing because we oppose. But the reform must be fair and practical. What may work in Peninsular Malaysia may not work the same way in Sarawak,” he said.

Before nationwide implementation, Wee said Putrajaya should engage in meaningful consultation with the Sarawak government, business chambers, transport operators, construction players, and rural stakeholders.

“Policy affecting Sarawak must be based on Sarawak’s reality,” he said.

He also called for greater unity among Sarawak leaders regardless of political affiliation when advocating for the state’s interests, stressing that the issue transcends politics.

“This is not about party politics. It is about our people, our businesses, our rural communities, and our cost of living,” he said.

Wee reiterated that Sarawak is not seeking preferential treatment, but fair treatment based on a realistic assessment of regional needs.

“We are only asking for fair treatment. All of us need to unite to achieve this,” he added.

Under the Budi Diesel initiative, eligible Malaysians will be able to purchase subsidised diesel at RM2.10 per litre via MyKad verification starting July 1, 2026. A transitional phase began on June 27, allowing eligible users in Peninsular Malaysia to purchase diesel at RM2.15 per litre. — DayakDaily