Budi95 expands today — what to know as 8.6 million STR households get RM1.99 fuel

Budi95 expands today — what to know as 8.6 million STR households get RM1.99 fuel



Malaysia’s Budi95 fuel subsidy widens today to include Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) households, allowing them to buy RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre. — Picture by Raymond Manuel

Sunday, 28 Sep 2025 7:00 AM MYT


KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 28 — Malaysia’s long-awaited Budi95 fuel subsidy continues its rollout today, with households registered under the Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) scheme set to join as the next group of beneficiaries.

The programme began yesterday with military and police personnel at petrol stations nationwide, where transactions were reported to be smooth and glitch-free.

Personnel were able to purchase RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre, marking the start of the targeted subsidy system.



A military personnel use his Budi95 quota to fill up petrol at a Petronas station in Taman Setiawangsa, Kuala Lumpur yesterday — Picture by Firdaus Latif.

From today, STR recipients will be entitled to the same benefit.


On Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the quota is more than enough for most Malaysians, noting that 98 per cent consume less than that amount each month.

Unused balances cannot be carried forward to the following month.

Who qualifies and how

Eligibility is tied to STR records, meaning households already registered are automatically included.

Categories of recipients include:Households: 

• Families earning below RM2,500, or between RM2,501 and RM5,000.
• Senior citizens: Elderly individuals without a spouse, subject to income limits.
• Singles: Individuals who are not married and meet age and income criteria.
• Persons with disabilities (OKU): Individuals registered under the single category.

There are about 8.6 million STR recipients nationwide.

The subsidy can be accessed through:

• MyKad readers at petrol pumps and convenience store counters nationwide.
• E-wallets, including Setel and Touch ‘n Go apps.

Authorities have said there are no limits on how many times recipients can refuel daily, but transactions will be closely monitored to prevent abuse and profiteering.

System and station readiness

Petrol station operators have activated backup systems to ensure smooth implementation, while the government confirmed servers can handle up to 30,000 transactions per minute.

Yesterday’s rollout with security forces served as a real-world test of the system’s readiness.

Driving licence renewal reminder

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) has extended its operating hours until October 26 to help Malaysians renew expired Competent Driving Licences (CDL).

Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook previously warned that motorists with expired licences of more than three years will not be eligible for the subsidy.

Nationwide by Sept 30

The final stage of the rollout will take place tomorrow, when all eligible Malaysians can begin purchasing RON95 at the subsidised rate through Budi95.

For now, the spotlight is on STR households as the government’s first large-scale test of the system before it goes nationwide.

Budi95 represents one of the government’s most ambitious subsidy reforms, replacing blanket fuel subsidies with a targeted model aimed at cutting leakages while ensuring assistance reaches those who need it most.