As March comes to an end, petrol stations across the country saw an unusual surge of vehicles, with long queues forming as drivers rushed to pump fuel before a key subsidy change kicks in.
Earlier, the government announced that the subsidised quota for RON95 petrol for private use will be reduced from 300 litres to 200 litres per month starting April.
Drivers rushing to use up remaining March quota
With March 31 marking the final day under the 300-litre quota, many motorists made their way to petrol stations to maximise their remaining subsidy entitlement.
They are believed to be concerned that the lower 200-litre cap in April may not be sufficient for their monthly usage, prompting them to fill up their tanks ahead of time.
By evening, multiple petrol stations reportedly experienced long queues, with cars lining up as drivers attempted to “make full use” of the higher quota before it expires.
Despite data showing most won’t be affected
Interestingly, official data suggests that around 90% of Malaysians are unlikely to be impacted by the reduction, as the majority of drivers consume less than 200 litres of RON95 petrol per month.
90% Of M’sians Used 100L Of RON95 Monthly, BUDI95 Quota Cuts Will Not Affect Majority
However, this did little to stop the rush.
Many adopted a “better safe than sorry” mindset, choosing to top up their fuel regardless, just to avoid any potential inconvenience once the new limit takes effect.
Scenes reminiscent of past petrol price changes
The situation also brought back memories of past years, when petrol prices were adjusted weekly.
Back then, it was common to see similar scenes of motorists crowding petrol stations the night before price changes, hoping to lock in lower rates.
This time, while it is not about price fluctuations, the behaviour remains the same — a collective rush driven by uncertainty and the fear of missing out on savings.