Full criteria for RON 95 subsidy to be announced Q1 2025

KUALA LUMPUR: The Economy Ministry plans to list the full criteria for RON95 petrol subsidy eligibility by the first quarter of 2025, says Rafizi Ramli.

“This comprises determining eligibility and classifying the groups,” the Economy Minister told the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday (Dec 10).

He added said there is a mechanism in the works for those deemed ineligible for subsidies to submit appeals.

Rafizi explained that the rationalised RON95 subsidy rollout has two main components: the back end, which determines eligibility, and the front end, which involves petrol stations.

“The agreement so far is that the Economy Ministry will determine who is eligible while the Finance Ministry handles the implementation by petrol stations,” he said.

He added that the first half of 2025 would focus on backend matters.

Rafizi said the household Net Disposable Income would be used to identify those eligible.

“This will ensure a more accurate and fair approach to determine who qualifies for subsidies and social aid.

“The data will be obtained through data from the Central Database Hub (Padu),” he said.

The rationalisation, he said, would allow the majority of Malaysians to continue enjoying petrol subsidies.

Rafizi was responding to Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin (PN-Putrajaya), who asked about the implementation of rationalised RON95 subsidies and the timeframe to announce the criteria.

When tabling Budget 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, announced that targeted subsidies for RON95 petrol would be implemented by mid-2025.

However, Anwar said that 85% of the population would continue to receive the subsidy.