Kota Kinabalu: Ranau Barisan Nasional (BN) Youth Chief Md Nadzmin Kamin
(pic) welcomed the Federal Government’s decision to maintain the subsidised diesel price at RM2.15 per litre in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan, while raising concerns over its implementation.
He said keeping the subsidised rate reflects Putrajaya’s recognition of Sabah and Sarawak as signatories to the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and contributors to the nation’s economic sustainability.
However, he cautioned that the enforcement of fuel purchase limits — 50 litres for light vehicles, 100 litres for transport vehicles below three tonnes, and 150 litres for heavy vehicles — needs closer scrutiny.
“We believe this blanket policy does not fully consider automotive realities and Sabah’s challenging terrain,” he said.
Md Nadzmin noted that four-wheel-drive vehicles in rural Sabah often have 80-litre tanks, while heavy machinery and lorries can exceed 300–500 litres. Long-distance travel across mountainous terrain also increases diesel consumption, making the 150-litre cap insufficient for logistics routes.
He said the limits could raise operational costs and lead to higher goods prices due to inefficiencies and frequent refuelling stops in areas with few petrol stations.
Despite this, he expressed support for measures to curb leakages and strengthen fiscal management, calling for flexibility or exemptions for key sectors and suggesting geo-tagging technology to better manage fuel quotas along critical routes.
