Government Restricts Foreigners From Fuel Subsidy Scheme, Aids 900,000 Malaysians With Licence Issues

The government has announced a measure to save billions in fuel subsidies. Nearly 900,000 foreigners will be restricted from the Budi95 scheme due to license issues. This move comes as the government aims to streamline the subsidy system and ensure its benefits reach the rightful recipients.

The Budi95 scheme, designed to aid Malaysian drivers, requires a functioning MyKad and a valid Competent Driving Licence (CDL). However, several groups face challenges in accessing the subsidy due to license details not aligning with their current MyKad information. These include license holders who registered using old identity documents, holders of Armed Forces or police driving licenses not converted to a CDL, and those with discrepancies or errors in their IC numbers. Additionally, stateless individuals, undocumented children, and certain indigenous peoples struggle due to their MyKad status.

To address this, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has set up special counters at all its offices nationwide. These counters are open for free updates to license details, ensuring that eligible Malaysians can benefit from the Budi95 scheme. Currently, about 0.88 per cent of nearly 17 million eligible Malaysians may face issues accessing the subsidy due to these license-related problems.

The restriction of nearly 900,000 foreigners from the Budi95 scheme aims to ensure the subsidy reaches the intended Malaysian recipients. The government's move, along with JPJ's special counters, seeks to rectify license-related issues and facilitate access to the subsidy for eligible Malaysians.