The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will investigate appropriate mechanisms to assist island communities in Peninsular Malaysia that rely on private boats, specifically to address their needs under the BUDI MADANI scheme.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh acknowledged the difficulties that island residents face when commuting to the mainland by boat.
“The ministry can look into ways to provide specific assistance to this group,” she said during the Dewan Rakyat Special Chamber session.
She was responding to Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (PN-Mersing), who advocated for a higher BUDI95 quota for island residents, including those in Mersing, Johor, due to their higher fuel consumption.
Separately, Fuziah stated that the ministry is refining the standard operating procedures (SOP) for extending subsidised diesel fleet cards to old people’s homes registered with non-governmental organisations.
She emphasised that these groups are currently excluded from the facility because they are not company-registered, despite having significant transport needs for welfare and elderly care.
“We are reviewing the SOPs to see how we can approve them because they are registered with the Registrar of Societies rather than the Companies Commission. Therefore, we need another procedure,” she explained.
She was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (BN-Ayer Hitam) about subsidised diesel access under the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme (SKDS) for marginalised sectors such as tourism and construction.
Fuziah added that the tourism industry is still ineligible for diesel subsidies under SKDS 2.0 because the scheme currently prioritises essential sectors such as food.
 will investigate appropriate mechanisms to assist island communities in Peninsular Malaysia that rely on private boats, specifically to address their needs under the BUDI MADANI scheme. ){kind=link}