Budi95: JPJ Extends Operating Hours; JPN to Issue Free MyKad Replacement

The Road Transport Department (JPJ) will extend its counter hours to make it easier for motorists to renew their licences in line with the rollout of the government’s Budi Madani RON95 initiative.

From Sept 27 to Oct 26, JPJ counters at state offices and branches will operate on weekends from 8.30am to 4.30pm. The move follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement of the Budi95 scheme, which reduces the price of RON95 petrol to RM1.99 per litre starting Sept 30.

JPJ director-general Datuk Aedy Fadly Ramli said the extended hours will differ by state. Counters in Kelantan, Terengganu and Kedah will open on Fridays and Saturdays, while in other states they will operate on Saturdays and Sundays.

He said the measure is intended to assist those unable to visit on weekdays, while also ensuring motorists remain compliant with licence regulations.

Currently, there are 15.2 million active Competent Driving Licence (CDL) holders, but another 2.3 million have licences that have been inactive for more than three years. Those in the latter group will need to re-sit the Driver Education Curriculum Part 2 and 3 tests before reactivation.

For licences that have expired for less than three years, renewals can be completed easily via the MyJPJ app, the MySikap portal or kiosks without visiting counters.

Aedy Fadly said the temporary weekend extension is meant to ensure the public can take full advantage of government measures while encouraging stronger compliance with road laws.

This step is also seen as timely, as motorists with outstanding summonses will now technically be required to settle them in order to benefit from the Budi95 fuel subsidy.

At the same time, the National Registration Department (JPN) has announced free replacement of damaged MyKad chips from Sept 23 to Oct 7. The initiative ensures no eligible Malaysian misses out on the Budi95 subsidy due to technical issues with their MyKad.

JPN said nearly 295,000 replacement applications for faulty chips were received between Jan and Aug this year, and expects around 43,000 cases per month. The government will cover all related costs, estimated at over RM700,000 during the replacement period.

Through MyKad verification, more than 16 million Malaysians with valid licences are expected to enjoy upto 300 liters of cheaper RON95 at RM1.99 per litre.