KOTA KINABALU: The government must expand the BUDI MADANI Diesel (BUDI Diesel) Mobile Counter to remote and rural areas across Sabah and Sarawak to ensure that citizens facing digital access limitations are not left behind.
In making the call, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak), Datuk Mustapha Sakmud emphasized that program improvements must be accompanied by effective grassroots implementation.
He stressed that relying solely on online portals is insufficient, considering Sabah and Sarawak’s geographical challenges and the obstacles faced by rural communities.
Accordingly, he urges the Ministry of Finance (MOF), Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), and relevant agencies to collaborate more closely with local community leaders.
“We cannot depend exclusively on online portals.
“The geographical reality of Sabah and Sarawak, particularly for rural and remote communities, demands a more personal and hands-on approach,” he said in a statement today.
Mustapha noted that UPPM in Sabah and the KMKK and JKKK networks in Sarawak can play a crucial role in helping citizens verify eligibility, submit applications and appeals, and manage subsidy transfers.
On September 16, the government expanded BUDI Diesel transfer benefits to eligible vehicle users.
Owners of multiple private diesel vehicles are now permitted to transfer their subsidy entitlement to up to three other individuals, subject to specified conditions.
Mustapha explained that these improvements account for vehicle usage patterns in Sabah and Sarawak, including installment payment practices and the use of jeeps and pickup trucks.
