'BUDI MADANI ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME WILL ABSORB ADDITIONAL EXPENSES FOR DIESEL, SAY RECIPIENTS

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KUALA LUMPUR, June 26 (Bernama) — A fresh chicken distributor in Puncak Alam says the RM200 cash assistance via the Budi Madani diesel fuel subsidy programme will lighten his financial burden following the implementation of the diesel subsidy rationalisation early this month.

Saiful Ahmad, 55, said that besides raw materials, the biggest cost to his business is the purchase of diesel for his pick-up trucks to transport supplies and deliver goods.

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“Of course there are people who say the RM200 is small but I understand, it is given to cover the additional costs when the price of diesel was increased.

“It was not meant to pay for everything, maybe many have misunderstood,” he said in a statement here today.

As of June 10, the retail price of diesel at all petrol stations in Peninsular Malaysia has been set at RM3.35 per litre, which is the price after rationalisation.

In relation to that, the government implemented the Budi Madani initiative aimed at ensuring the diesel subsidy allocation was targeted at those who qualify with low to moderate incomes to reduce their burden with the monthly RM200 cash payout.

 The registration for the Budi Madani programme opened on May 28 and no closing date has been set to get the cash assistance.

Besides Budi Madani, the government has also reduced the burden of the target group through subsidies for public transport vehicles on land as well as the transport of goods through the subsidised diesel control system (SKDS).

Meanwhile, Cameron Highlands’ Vegetable Farmers Organisation President Datuk Chai Kok Lim said that todate, about 200 of its 800 members have gotten the RM200 cash payout.

Concuring  with Saiful, Chai said the initiative helped them to absorb costs and continue their vegetable producing operations.

“There are still members who are waiting approval, but there have been others whose applications have been rejected as they didn’t meet the criteria as their sales exceeded RM300,000.

“We have requested the criteria be eased for companies earning more than a million ringgit.

“The matter has been brought to the attention of Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying during her recent visit and we appreciate the government’s openness to listen to our appeals to improve the policies,” he said. 

– BERNAMA