Minister Armizan Mohd Ali said efforts were under way with five oil companies to expedite the process.

“We expect to approve (the applicants) once all of the required documents are submitted, as our system is integrated with the road transport department’s system,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“I admit that there have been delays in issuing the fleet cards, and we are actively engaging with oil companies to speed up the (fleet cards’) release.”

Armizan was responding to a supplementary question from Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka), who asked for an explanation on the delay in issuing fleet cards under SKDS 2.0.

Khoo claimed that many fleet card applicants had yet to receive their cards despite approvals dating back to March.

SKDS is a government initiative which allows fleet card holders to purchase diesel at below the retail price, as part of efforts to reduce the burden on public land transport and goods operators.

Last month, Armizan instructed public transport companies and SKDS-approved goods transporters awaiting fleet cards from fuel retailers to retain their diesel purchase receipts.

He said this would enable cash refund claims to be made with the finance ministry, in accordance with the application procedure to be announced later.

The government began accepting refund applications from SKDS 2.0 recipients on July 1.