(Source: Facebook | SG Road Vigilante)
We’ve read so many stories on Singaporean drivers fueling up with RON95, but this story certainly has taken things to a whole new level.
A Singapore-registered Mini Cooper recently stirred up controversy after the driver was spotted at a petrol station in Johor Bahru filling up with RON95 fuel and even taking some away in a separate bottle. The video, which was shared on the SG Road Vigilante Facebook group quickly went viral and ignited backlash among netizens who were furious at the blatant disregard for Malaysian fuel subsidy rules.
For context (and for all Singaporeans’ kind information), RON95 is a heavily subsidised fuel in Malaysia, strictly reserved for Malaysian-owned vehicles. The ban on the sale of subsidised RON95 petrol to foreign‑registered vehicles has been in effect since 1st August 2010 under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Supply Control Regulations 1974). That regulation was introduced explicitly to prevent abuse of fuel subsidies meant only for Malaysian‑registered vehicles.
Despite this, the driver of the Singapore-plated car not only filled the tank with RON95 but also had the audacity to “tapau” the excess into a bottle in broad daylight, sparking heated discussions online about fairness and enforcement.
Some questioned how someone driving a Mini Cooper could not afford to purchase non-subsidised fuel, while others demanded stricter border checks and harsher penalties for those caught violating the rules. Many Malaysians feel that stronger measures need to be taken to prevent foreign vehicles from abusing the subsidy, pointing out that this directly undermines the system meant to benefit locals.
As the video continues to circulate, the public is calling for swift action against both the driver and the petrol station involved. Many have tagged PDRM and the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in the post.
As a result of the virality of the post, KPDN Johor has launched a detailed investigation into this matter.
"KPDN Johor has taken note of the circulation of a photo showing a foreign vehicle, believed to belong to a Singaporean, refuelling with RON95 at a petrol station in Johor Bahru. A detailed investigation is being carried out to identify the location of the petrol station involved and to determine whether there was any violation of existing regulations," said Johor KPDN Director, Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, when contacted by Sinar Harian on Monday.