Malaysia’s Johor calls for punishments against foreign-registered vehicle owners buying subsidized fuel following viral Singapore luxury car incident

"We (the Johor state government) propose that the legislation be enhanced even further by empowering Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry enforcement personnel to take action against the offenders," said Lee Ting Han, Johor’s Investment, Consumer Affairs and Human Resources executive committee chairman, on Monday, as quoted by the New Straits Times.

In Malaysia, RON95 fuel is partly subsidized by the government to keep prices low for lower-income groups and is restricted to Malaysia-registered vehicles.

Petrol station operators who sell subsidized petrol to foreign-registered vehicles can be fined up to RM1 million (US$228,425) for a first offense and face up to RM3 million in fines, imprisonment of up to three years, or both for repeat violations.

However, there is currently no provision to fine the offending motorists themselves, according to Channel News Asia.

Lee’s remarks came in the wake of a case earlier this month, when a photo was widely shared on social media showing a person allegedly refueling a Singapore-registered luxury car while also topping up a large plastic jerrycan with the subsidized petrol at a station in Johor’s Iskandar Puteri city, as reported by Free Malaysia Today.

A photo showing a Singapore-registered car filling up subsidized RON95 fuel at a Malaysia petrol station. Photo from Facebook

The image sparked an outcry on social media, where many users described the act as "a disgrace" and labeled the owner a "cheapskate."

"Regardless of citizenship, we should shame the driver for doing so when driving a sg (Singapore) plate," said a Reddit comment cited by The New Paper.

"You can afford to buy a car in Singapore, you can afford to pump unsubsidized petrol."

Singapore is the most expensive city in the world to purchase a car and is connected to Johor via the Johor–Singapore Causeway.

Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, who heads the Johor branch of Malaysia’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, said officials were working to pinpoint the petrol station where the incident occurred.

Just a few days later, another photo surfaced online showing a man filling a Singapore-registered car with RON95 at a station along the Senai–Desaru Expressway.

Earlier this year, Gordon Lim, communications and media secretary of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia, also called for penalties against motorists who illegally purchase subsidized fuel, arguing that it is unfair to punish only petrol station operators.

The association noted that it is difficult for operators to monitor such cases, as these errant drivers often choose pumps located farthest from the cashier and pay by credit card to make a quick exit.

"As long as the buyers are not penalized, they will always keep trying," Malaysian newspaper The Star quoted Lim as saying.