News has been circulating about new regulations on subsidized fuel and the Malaysian government has been quick to dispel certain rumours. The KPDNKK or Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism, an alleged planned system where only motorists with monthly income of RM5,000 and below can enjoy subsidized fuel rates.
Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said that the reports were merely speculations and that the government did not make any decisions or issued any details of the move which many deemed as controversial. According to the rumours, only those who earned RM5,000 per month and below were entitled for subsidized fuel and this was applicable to cars below 2,000cc.
The ministry said that the government will only make the announcement in due course and that it is taking a new approach to fuel subsidies. For those who earn between RM5,000 and RM10,000 per month, they will only be allowed to buy 300 liters of petrol and diesel at the subsidized price. This means that those who earn more than RM10,000 per month will not be entitled to any subsidies at all while foreign motorists and those who own foreign cars will fall under this bracket as well.
How the move is implemented is still open to debate but if that is the move the government is planning to take, then it would mean upgrading the MyKad among Malaysians to include information if the bearer is eligible to buy fuel at the subsidized price or it could mean another card to buy fuel.