Community activist and Kundasang Tourism and Cultural Association chairman Datuk Japiril Suhaimin has urged the Federal Government to raise the monthly subsidised fuel quota for eligible Sabahans to 500 litres each for RON95 and Budi Diesel.
Japiril welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement increasing the RON95 quota to 300 litres and Budi Diesel to 400 litres, but said the allocation should be reviewed further to reflect Sabah’s geographical and economic realities.
He said long-distance travel was part of daily life for many Sabahans, particularly those living in rural and interior areas where journeys could span tens or even hundreds of kilometres.
“Sabah cannot be compared entirely with Peninsular Malaysia. In rural and interior areas, long-distance travel is part of everyday life,” he said in a statement.
Japiril said a 500-litre monthly quota for both fuel types would be more appropriate for eligible Sabahans, especially those who depend heavily on vehicles for their livelihoods.
He said vehicles were essential for travelling to workplaces, farms and plantations, transporting agricultural produce, running small businesses, sending children to school and accessing basic services.
“Fuel policies must take these realities into account, rather than being based solely on general consumption figures,” he said.
He also called for eligibility criteria to be simplified and made more flexible, warning that higher quotas would have limited impact if people who genuinely needed assistance were excluded because of rigid requirements.
According to Japiril, vehicle ownership rules should take into account circumstances such as older vehicles and vehicles registered under family members’ names but used for household needs or income-generating activities.
“Technical requirements should not become an obstacle for applicants who are genuinely eligible for assistance,” he said.
He also proposed a simple and transparent appeal mechanism for unsuccessful applicants, including clear reasons for rejected applications and an accessible process to request a review.
Japiril said special consideration should be given to farmers, fishermen, livestock breeders, small traders, rural entrepreneurs and tourism operators, whose livelihoods depend heavily on vehicles.
At the same time, he supported strict enforcement against the leakage and misuse of subsidised fuel, but stressed that enforcement should be properly targeted to avoid placing additional burdens on legitimate recipients.
Japiril said a peaceful gathering in Kota Marudu on September 7 would proceed as a democratic platform for members of the public to voice concerns and seek improvements to the fuel subsidy policy.
He said the group’s demands remained clear: a monthly allocation of 500 litres each of RON95 and Budi Diesel for eligible Sabahans, alongside simpler and more Sabah-specific eligibility requirements.
“We appreciate the increase in the quota that has been announced, but the effort to ensure the policy truly eases the burden on Sabahans is not over,” he said.
“Sabah is not Peninsular Malaysia. Sabah’s reality must be taken into account in every policy that affects the lives of its people.”
