Driver of S’pore-registered car spotted pumping RON95 in M’sia, authorities launch investigation

Driver spotted pumping RON95 into Singapore-registered car in Malaysia

A driver of a Singapore-registered car was recently spotted allegedly pumping RON95 petrol at a Petron station in Taiping, Perak, Malaysia.

The incident reportedly took place at around 4pm on Monday (10 Aug).

After a photo of the incident circulated on social media, local authorities visited the petrol station and launched an investigation.

Foreign-registered vehicles not allowed to pump RON95

The viral photo showed a man leaning against a grey Toyota Corolla Altis bearing a Singapore licence plate while refuelling.

Notably, the yellow nozzle appeared to have been removed from the dispenser, suggesting that the vehicle was being filled with RON95, a subsidised fuel that foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed to purchase.

Foreign-registered vehicles are prohibited from purchasing RON95 petrol in Malaysia.

In April this year, the Malaysian government also introduced penalties for individuals who purchase RON95 for foreign-registered vehicles, in addition to petrol station operators who sell the subsidised fuel to them.

Authorities investigating incident

Following complaints and the circulation of the photo on social media, officers from the Perak Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) visited the petrol station at around 11am on Tuesday (11 Aug).

Perak KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said preliminary investigations found that the RON95 purchase was allegedly made using a credit card at an external payment terminal.

Authorities also suspect that the vehicle involved bore a foreign registration number.

KPDN is reviewing the petrol station’s sales transaction records and CCTV footage as part of its investigation.

Individual may face up to S$313,000 fine and/or three years’ jail

Mr Kamalludin said one case is being investigated against the party suspected of selling RON95 to a foreign-registered vehicle without the controller’s written permission.

A separate case involves the alleged purchase of RON95 for use in a foreign-registered vehicle without permission.

If convicted, an individual may be fined up to RM1 million (approximately S$313,000), jailed for up to three years, or both. Corporate bodies may face fines of up to RM2 million (approximately S$626,000).

KPDN Perak also urged the public to share information on the misuse of controlled and subsidised goods via WhatsApp at 019-848 8000 or its call centre at 1-800-886-800.

Also read: E-plate S’pore driver caught pumping RON95 petrol during M’sian enforcement, gets fined S$6.4K

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Featured image adapted from Taiping D Av@ngers on Facebook and Alhijrah TV Perak on Facebook.