RANAU: The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry, Datuk Jamawi Jaafar, is confident that enhancements to the implementation of BUDI Diesel in Sabah will occur within the next two to three weeks, following ongoing engagement sessions between the State Government and relevant federal ministries.
He stated that this issue was raised in the State Cabinet meeting after his ministry reported the outcomes of consultations with the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) last week regarding the impact of targeted diesel subsidies on the people of Sabah.
“I have provided a comprehensive report on how our farmers are affected, how our farming machinery is impacted, how our pickup vehicles are affected, and so on, including the youth who own pickup trucks and jeeps for work and business purposes.
“The Chief Minister is taking this matter seriously and has instructed the State Cabinet to invite the Ministry of Finance and KPDN for a briefing and engagement session with civil servants and government representatives,” he said.
According to him, the first session will involve state department heads this Friday at Menara Kinabalu, while the second session with government representatives will take place on Sunday to allow the Federal Government to gain a clearer understanding of the actual situation on the ground since the implementation of BUDI Diesel.
Jamawi noted that Sabah has different needs compared to Peninsular Malaysia due to geographical factors and long travel distances, necessitating a more suitable approach in the implementation of fuel subsidy policies.
“We are not the same as in the Peninsular. There, driving for three hours can cross several states, but in Sabah, driving for three hours may not even reach one district. That is why the need for diesel and petrol usage in Sabah is different,” he said.
