Reality Check: Decoding the Massive Gaps in Maslan’s Cycling & Biodiesel Proposals

If you’ve been on social media recently, you’ve seen it. Deputy Minister of Works, Datuk Seri Dr. Ahmad Maslan has dropped a 7-point plan to save us from the sting of rising fuel prices. From cycling to the shops to a nationwide biodiesel revolution, netizens are saying these suggestions read like a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) model essay, perfect on paper, but hitting a massive reality check on the actual road.

"Model Answer" or Real Solution? The 7-point fuel plan currently going viral.

1. The Biodiesel Mirage: A RM643 Million Standoff

The Suggestion: Increase research and build more factories to push biodiesel blends.

The Reality Gap: You can build all the factories you want, but without blending depots, the fuel never reaches your tank. Back in 2025, Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Gani threw cold water on this dream, confirming the government wasn't prepared to fund the RM643 million infrastructure investment required.

Currently, B20 is a fuel limited mostly to Langkawi, Labuan, and parts of Sarawak. For the rest of us in Semenanjung, we are stuck on B10 because the "pipes" simply don't exist. Suggesting more biodiesel without addressing the funding refusal is like selling a car with no engine, it looks great in the showroom, but it isn’t going anywhere.

2. The "Cycling" Death Trap

The Suggestion: Hop on a bicycle for nearby trips. It’s healthy and saves petrol!

The Reality Gap: As anyone who has tried to walk to a shop across a 6-lane highway in Puchong knows, Malaysia is not Amsterdam. Our road infrastructure is "hostile by design."

The Safety Gap: Most "nearby" shops require crossing highway off-ramps or navigating roads with zero shoulder space.

The Weather Factor: Cycling in 34°C humidity with 90% moisture isn't a "commute", it’s a safety risk. Without dedicated, shaded, and barrier-protected bike lanes, this suggestion puts the burden of safety entirely on the rakyat’s shoulders.

3. The EV Transition: A Solution with a "New Car" Price Tag 

Netizens aren't buying the 7-point plan.

The Suggestion: Switch to Electric Vehicles (EVs) to escape rising fuel costs.

The Reality Check: While EVs are the future, the move from petrol to electric in 2026 comes with significant "entry costs" that many households aren't ready for.

The Upfront Financial Burden: Transitioning to an EV usually means taking on a new car loan. With household debt already high and interest rates stabilizing but still present, trading in a fully paid-off Myvi for a new Proton e.MAS 7 or e.MAS 5 (even with its competitive sub-RM100k pricing) adds a fresh monthly commitment to the family budget. For many, the "petrol savings" might be swallowed up by the monthly bank installment.

The MITI "Floor" Effect: As of January 2026, MITI has set a minimum price of RM250,000 for fully imported (CBU) EVs. This is a deliberate move to push brands toward local assembly (CKD), which is good for our economy in the long run. However, in the short term, it keeps the variety of "entry-level" EVs limited.

Infrastructure Growth vs. Home Reality: We’ve hit a huge milestone with over 5,000 chargers nationwide and 1,700 DC fast chargers, beating early government targets! But for the "layman," the hurdle is at home. For those who live in an older apartment or a terrace house with limited power capacity, that "overnight charge" dream still requires a lot of extra planning and cost.

Read: Updated 2026: Top 10 CPOs In Malaysia

Read: Saudi Arabia Cuts Oil Supply to Asia: Are EVs Now the Only 'War-Proof' Cars?

4. The "Walk the Talk" Sentiment

The Suggestion: Carpool and use public transport.

The Reality: Netizens have been quick to point out the irony. While the public is told to carpool and cycle, our leaders often travel in multi-car motorcades with outriders. The most popular suggestion from the comment sections? "Cut the perks first." If ministers want the rakyat to carpool, perhaps it’s time to see a few MPs sharing a van to Parliament.

The Verdict

Managing fuel costs requires more than "short-term" suggestions; it requires massive infrastructure spending that the government has already shown it is hesitant to provide. Until that RM643 million for biodiesel is found and bike lanes become more than just painted lines on a gutter, these 7 points remain stuck in the classroom.

What do you think? Would you trade your car for a bicycle if there were better lanes, or is the biodiesel dream the only way forward?