Assemblywoman Warns Against Reselling Subsidy Quotas: Urges BUDI95 Recipients Not to Rent Out MyKad

1 October 2025

KOTA KINABALU: Sabah DAP Vice Chairperson and Kapayan State Assemblywoman, Datuk Jannie Lasimbang, has cautioned recipients of government aid schemes against engaging in the growing trend of reselling or renting out their MyKad-linked fuel subsidy quotas.

She reminded the public that schemes such as SARA and BUDI95 require verification through the national identity card (MyKad).

However, many eligible individuals have missed out on these benefits because they failed to update their MyKad in time.

Jannie urged citizens to promptly renew outdated identity cards to avoid technical problems where old chips cannot be read, thereby preventing access to subsidies. Doing so, she said, would also ensure that genuine recipients are not “overlooked” due to administrative issues.

“When the government designed these assistance measures, the intention was to prioritise fairness and convenience, easing the financial burden of lower-income families,” she said.

However, Jannie raised concern over recent social media posts offering to “rent out” MyKad. Some individuals who possess both MyKad and a driving licence but do not own a car are reselling their 300-litre fuel subsidy quota to others.

“Such practices not only waste resources but also encourage improper behaviour. Some are lending their MyKad to non-family members or engaging in cash transactions to resell their quota. These actions deviate from the original purpose of the policy and undermine the system’s credibility,” she stressed.

She warned of two major risks if this continues: firstly, those most in need may not receive adequate benefits; and secondly, the emergence of a black market could weaken the government’s ability to regulate subsidy distribution, ultimately jeopardising long-term public policy.

Jannie called on the authorities to intensify public awareness campaigns highlighting the potential legal consequences of lending or reselling MyKad, while also tightening enforcement to prevent abuse.

She concluded by urging the public to use their MyKad and subsidies responsibly, saying: “Only by safeguarding fairness and integrity in the system can we ensure that society as a whole reaps the long-term benefits.”