Kota Kinabalu: National Consumer Foundation Malaysia (YPNM) Sabah Chapter Chairman David Chan urged the Federal Government to speed up the rollout of the petrol fleet card system.
“We support the Government’s subsidy rationalisation objectives but efficiency and timeliness in execution are equally important to avoid unintended harm to essential service providers and the public.
“The continued delays are pushing up costs for school bus operators, farmers and fishermen across Sabah,” David said in a statement.
He said many operators in these sectors have yet to receive their fleet cards, forcing them to absorb higher fuel costs after exhausting their limited subsidised fuel quotas.
“The delays risk triggering a chain reaction of rising costs that would ultimately fall on ordinary Malaysians, particularly those in the B40 and M40 income groups.
“A well-executed subsidy system must not only be fair but also responsive to the real needs on the ground,” he said.
He said school bus operators, farmers and fishermen are among those most dependent on subsidised fuel for their daily operations and that any disruption to targeted fuel assistance would have direct consequences for consumers.
He pointed out that a prolonged delay could lead to higher school bus fares burdening parents, rising prices for fresh produce and seafood and supply chain disruptions, concerns particularly relevant to Sabah, where rural communities are heavily reliant on these sectors.
