KOTA KINABALU: The fuel rationalisation scheme, which will be implemented next year, has received mixed reactions from members of the public.
State Wildlife Department deputy director Dr Sen Nathan opined that in principle, the scheme is good but wondered how the government is going to impose it.
“It will be impossible to implement…I could get my driver to drive my car when filling it up, for example,” he said.
Danau Girang Field Centre director Dr Benoit Goossens shared Dr Sen’s opinion on the difficulties in successfully implementing the scheme.
He said that if such a scheme was implemented, it would most probably create long queues at gas stations as drivers have to wait longer for their turn to re-fuel.
“It is nonsense,” he said.
Benoit also mentioned that if the country implemented the scheme, it would be the first one to do so in the world.
He said he did not know of any country that imposed different prices for fuel for its people.
With regard to fairness, Benoit lamented if there was any fairness in this world at all and inquired as to how the government was going to implement the scheme.
Former school headmaster Crispin Payus said while the scheme looked ‘pretty’, he did not agree with it because he felt it was unfair.
“The government is inviting more negativity than positivity. The government constantly reminds of the burden it shoulders due to subsidy, so rather than create problems for the people who will not be happy, it’s better they scrap the plan,” he said.
Another respondent Angeline B said the fuel subsidy should be enjoyed by all individuals regardless of their earnings.
“Those earning RM5,000 and above are already paying income tax anyway, so it would be unfair if they were deprived of this subsidy,” she said.