Diesel subsidy: Gov needs to explore cheaper alternatives for replacement

Premier of Sarawak, Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, suggested that the federal government should seek and explore cheap and sustainable alternative energy sources to replace the use of diesel throughout Malaysia.

He said that this long-term effort would also eliminate the need for the diesel subsidy borne by the country.

“If people still use diesel and ask for subsidies, when the prices go up, they will ask for more… so why not have alternative energy so there won’t be a need to use diesel,” he said in a press conference yesterday.

Abang Johari said, for example, the government could explore the use of emerging energy sources like hydrogen, which is being actively implemented by the Sarawak government.

On Sunday, Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan, announced that the price of diesel at all retail stations in Peninsular Malaysia was set at RM3.35 per liter, the market price without subsidies, starting from 12.01 am on Monday.

Under “Budi Madani,” a cash assistance of RM200 per month is provided to private diesel vehicle owners, small-scale farmers, and small-scale commodity growers.

Registration for Budi Madani opened on May 28 following the discontinuation of diesel subsidies, and 30,000 diesel vehicle owners will receive the assistance starting today.