KUALA LUMPUR: The Finance Ministry today announced a diesel subsidy aid programme involving a monthly allocation of RM200 for eligible individuals as well as agriculture and commodity smallholders.

The eligibility criteria for the Budi Madani programme require applicants to be Malaysian citizens and own a private diesel vehicle registered with the Road Transport Department (RTD).

"The vehicle also must have valid road tax, and the annual income of the individual or their spouse must be RM100,000 or below.

"However, luxury vehicles under 10 years old are excluded from eligibility," the ministry said in a statement.

It said that applications received will be cross-checked with data from the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) to exclude owners of luxury vehicles under 10 years and high-income individuals (T20).

Meanwhile, for the Budi Agri-Commodity category for small-scale farmers and smallholders, applicants must be registered with the relevant agencies under the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry or the Plantation and Commodities Ministry.

"The applicant must also be an active commodity farmer or smallholder with annual agricultural sales of between RM50,000 and RM300,000."

The Finance Ministry also said that early applications for the Budi Individual and Budi Agri-Commodity categories were open until mid-June.

"Applications can be made online at https://budimadani.gov.my.

"For applications submitted and approved before June 3, applicants will receive their first Budi Madani by mid-June 2024, with subsequent assistance disbursed monthly.

"For applications approved after June 3, the first Budi Madani will be received within two weeks, followed by monthly disbursements."

The aid will be credited into the recipient's bank account each month and recipients without bank accounts can collect the aid in cash at any Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) branch throughout Peninsular Malaysia.

The ministry added that this initiative complements the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry's MySubsidi fleet card programme, which is for land transport and logistics firms.

Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the Budi Madani programme expands Putrajaya's aid coverage ahead of the implementation of targeted diesel subsidies.

"As Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has iterated consistently, targeted subsidies are a key reform measure under the Madani Economy framework, to build a financially sustainable and competitive Malaysia.

"An all-of-government approach is being undertaken to ensure the mechanism of targeted subsidy for diesel is comprehensive (and) efficient, and can effectively reach the majority of the people."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/05/1056099/govt-unveils-rm200-diesel-subsidy-aid-programme