Its president, Aminuddin Awang, said some teachers use their BUDI95 quotas for official duties, including transporting students to co-curricular activities and competitions using their own vehicles, quickly depleting their subsidised fuel quotas.

“As such, we hope the government will reconsider restoring the 300-litre quota as a gesture of appreciation for teachers in conjunction with Teachers’ Day,” Bernama reported him as saying after the Penang NUTP branch’s Teachers’ Day celebration in Butterworth today.

Aminuddin said the request had been submitted to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in a letter last month.

Apart from fuel costs, he said, many teachers pay out-of-pocket for stationery, laptops, and internet services used for teaching and official duties.

He also said NUTP was calling for a Teachers Protection Act to ensure educators are legally protected while carrying out their duties, as teachers increasingly face possible legal action from parents over matters related to educating and disciplining students.

When the BUDI95 programme was introduced, citizens aged 16 and above who possessed valid driving licences could purchase up to 300 litres of RON95 petrol per month at the subsidised price of RM1.99 per litre.

However, in March, Anwar announced that the 300-litre monthly quota would be reduced to 200 litres as an interim measure in dealing with the impact of the Middle East conflict.