Benefits for eligible road users

AS one of many who will gain from Budget 2019, I applaud the benefits laid out especially for us, the road users.

The fuel subsidy of 30sen per litre for RON95, capped at 100 litres for cars (1500cc and below) and 40 litres for motorcycles (125cc and below) per month may seem to be a small sum but some simple calculations would prove otherwise.

Assuming that one drives a Perodua Kancil (847cc) which consumes 15 litres each week or 60 litres each month; that would translate to a savings of RM18 per month or RM216 per year.

If we extend this further to a maximum usage of the subsidy at 100 litres for cars and 40 litres for motorcycles, it leads to savings of RM360 and RM144 respectively per year for each car and motorcycle. Of course, we can only claim for one car.

There are also the benefits from the abolition of tolls for motorcycles at the Penang Bridge, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge and the Second Link to Singapore from Johor. Based on the reported current toll charges of RM1.40, RM1.70 and RM2.20 (two-way) at the three bridges respectively, we can work out an estimated savings model based on some simple assumptions.

Based on the assumption of a five-day working week, multiply that with four weeks in a month and 12 months in a year, and you can see how much a motorcyclist can save using these bridges – RM336 per year at Penang Bridge, RM408 per year at Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge, and RM528 per year at the Second Link.

These figures are pretty good and would definitely benefit the B40 group, and even the M40 and also a sprinkling of the T20 who still drive around in a simple 1300cc car or 70cc motorcycle.

To the uninitiated, the T20, M40 and B40 groups refer to households earning a monthly income of RM13,148, RM6,275 and RM3,000 respectively as defined by the Department of Statistics Malaysia.

So, my fellow Malaysians, isn’t Budget 2019 wonderful? For me, it’s certainly wonderful because I know what I am gaining, and also reassuring because I know it will not be taken away if I qualify for it.

Let us also not forget the many other benefits laid out for the various segments of society, such as raising the minimum wage to RM1,100, the RM500 one-off payment to civil servants on Grade 54 and below, RM500 one-off payment for eligible pensioners receiving less than RM1,000 monthly, and a bonus of RM250 for government retirees.

This will certainly be a good stepping stone to lift up our economy again.