Kota kinabalu: Savings of about RM40 to RM50 a week may seem modest to some, but for diesel users in Sabah, the amount offers much-needed flexibility in managing their families' daily living costs. For those who depend on diesel vehicles for their daily commute, the money saved on fuel can now be channelled towards other needs, including children's education, school activities, food, and household expenses.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, IT manager Gloria Chew, 49, from Kota Kinabalu, said she began feeling the benefits of the BUDI Diesel initiative within a week of using it, as her fuel expenses had dropped significantly. Gloria typically fills up about 50 litres of diesel for a week's use, which previously cost her more than RM100. With the initiative, she now saves about RM40 to RM50 over the same period. She expressed delight at the introduction of the scheme, which offers diesel at RM2.10 per litre through a MyKad-based mechanism, benefiting over 238,000 users since its implementation on June 27 in Peninsular Malaysia and July 1 in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan.

Gloria hopes the initiative will continue and calls for broader dissemination of information, especially in rural and remote areas where diesel vehicles are crucial for transportation and goods movement. Trader Satar Bahari, 49, from Sepanggar, also expressed gratitude for the BUDI Diesel initiative, saying the savings had helped ease the burden of daily expenses.

Meanwhile, factory worker Johnson Jonis, who commutes from Tamparuli to his workplace at the Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park, noted a decrease in his weekly diesel spending from over RM100 to about RM60 since the scheme's implementation. He described BUDI Diesel as an excellent initiative but highlighted the need for greater attention to the needs of rural and remote communities in Sabah that continue to rely on diesel for daily use.

Johnson pointed out that diesel powers not only vehicles but also generators in rural areas lacking full electricity supply. He suggested a comprehensive study to identify the actual needs of diesel users in Sabah to ensure future improvements are aligned with local conditions. "I hope the government can introduce a more comprehensive initiative in the future, as diesel is not just for cars. Generators also run on diesel, especially in remote areas that still lack electricity," he said.