WHILE WE are relieved that the conflict in the middle east appears to be winding down, it will take time for things to return to normal.
Will the price of things go down to their original level? Highly unlikely.
Tough times call for desperate measures and the story is even worse for the e-hailing drivers out there who are very much affected by fuel prices.
We suppose it is just a matter of time before a hapless passenger is harassed by a e-hailing driver who is looking for ways to circumvent the Budi95 quota.
In a video by netizen @MadaniNomics, the driver could be heard asking if he could borrow the passenger’s IC so that he could use her Budi95.
Anyone could point out to the man the serious offense of using some other people’s IC to claim fuel at a cheaper price.
As though that wasn’t bad enough, the man even scolded the lady when she refused.
“Pinjam BUDI95 pun kedekut!” Pemandu e-hailing sindir penumpang yang kedekut meminjamkan subsidi minyaknya.
📹 Kredit: @waninur pic.twitter.com/zCgyBtFr0h
— MadaniNomics 🇲🇾 (@MadaniNomics) June 14, 2026
Netizens who watched the exchange in the video were quick to condemn the driver. One told the lady to give him a one star review while another suggested she report the matter to the authorities.
@NaimFathullah further suggested she politely refuse his request by claiming that she didn’t have a driving license.
Another netizen said that although he has been running an e-hailing service, he never once passed the Budi95 limit.
“How do you plan to give back after borrowing her Budi95?” asked an exasperated @jighaaa4.
However, a sceptical @syamelody wondered how she was able to record the video at the right time when the person decided to ask for her Budi95.
Perhaps the entire scene had been staged after all. Regardless, the lesson still stands. It is vital for readers to be reminded that using or possessing someone else’s MyKad for subsidies is a severe offense under regulation 25 of the National Registration Regulations 1990.
The Ministry Of Finance stressed that the use or possession of another person’s MyKad without lawful authority carries a fine of up to RM20,000, imprisonment for up to three years, or both upon conviction.
Whether the video was genuine or staged, it has succeeded in drawing attention to an important issue.
Subsidies are meant to ease the burden on those who qualify for them, not to be traded, borrowed or exploited through loopholes.
Economic pressures may tempt some people to bend the rules, but financial hardship does not excuse unlawful conduct.
If anything, the incident serves as a timely reminder for Malaysians to safeguard their personal information and resist requests that could expose them to legal consequences.
At a time when living costs remain a concern for many households, trust in subsidy programmes depends on both effective enforcement and public cooperation.
Without that, even the best-intentioned assistance schemes risk being undermined by a minority willing to game the system. —June 15, 2026
Main image: @MadaniNomics (X)
