Malaysian authorities in Johor state have launched an investigation after a Singapore-registered luxury vehicle was seen refueling with RON95 petrol, a subsidized fuel reserved for Malaysians.
“We are aware of the image showing a foreign-registered vehicle, believed to belong to a Singaporean national, refuelling with RON95 petrol at a petrol station in Johor Bahru,” said Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, director of the Johor branch of Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, according to the New Straits Times.
Johor Bahru, the capital of Johor state in southern Malaysia, sits just across the border from Singapore.
“A thorough investigation is being conducted to identify the location of the station involved and determine whether there has been a breach of existing regulations,” she said.
A photo widely shared online since Sunday shows the luxury vehicle not only being refueled with RON95 but also allegedly having the fuel pumped into a large plastic bottle at a station in Iskandar Puteri, a city in Johor.
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A photo showing a Singapore-registered car filling up subsidized RON95 fuel at a Malaysia petrol station. Photo from Facebook |
RON95 is subsidized by the Malaysian government and is sold at RM2.05 (US$0.48) per liter, according to Singapore’s news outlet Mothership. It is strictly reserved for Malaysians and dispensed using yellow nozzles.
Foreign-registered vehicles are prohibited from purchasing it and are instead allowed to buy higher-grade fuels like RON97 or RON100. RON97 is currently priced at RM3.17 per liter.
Petrol station operators who sell RON95 to foreign vehicles may face fines of up to RM1 million or imprisonment for up to three years.
“If the investigation confirms any offence, appropriate action will be taken against the parties involved, including the petrol station operator if found to be negligent or complicit,” Lilis Saslinda said.
She stressed that the ban on selling RON95 to foreign-registered vehicles remains in force and warned all petrol station operators to comply strictly with government directives.
Authorities have called on the public to assist in the investigation by reporting any incidents involving the illegal sale of subsidized fuel to foreign vehicles.
