PETALING JAYA: Eligible Malaysians who already qualify for cost of living aid (BSH) will get cash handouts as petrol subsidy, according to government sources.
A Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs insider told Malay Mail that recipients would be vetted using the BSH database and that their car or motorcycle ownership details would be cross-checked against information from the Road Transport Department. Those who do not own any vehicles will not get the fuel subsidy, the official said.
The disbursement method would be reviewed quarterly to gauge its effectiveness, revealed another ministry source.
The subsidy scheme was supposed to be announced in June but it had been postponed until this month.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail had been due to announce the petrol subsidy mechanism on Wednesday but deferred it as he had to be in Parliament to vote on a Bill to reduce the voting age to 18.
The Malay Mail report today indicates that the earlier proposed subsidy scheme based on vehicle engine capacity is scrapped.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had announced the petrol subsidy under Budget 2019.
Under the programme, owners of cars and motorcycles with engines below 1,500cc and 125cc respectively will receive subsidies for RON95 petrol at 30 sen per litre.
The subsidy for car owners will be limited to 100 litres of petrol monthly, while motorcycle owners will get 40 litres monthly.
Some RM2bil has been allocated for the new initiative, which is expected to benefit more than four million car owners and 2.6 million motorcycle owners.
