A Singapore-registered car was recently caught on camera allegedly flouting fuel regulations in Johor Bahru (JB), sparking fresh outrage online over what many see as blatant fuel subsidy abuse.
A Facebook user posted about the incident on 3 August 2025, around 6:36 PM, at the Caltex petrol station in Nusa Sentral, JB. The vehicle in question, a Mini One bearing Singapore number plate SMA****Y, was seen pumping RON95 fuel—and not just into the vehicle, but also reportedly into a separate container for takeaway.
The post quickly gained traction due to the long-standing policy in Malaysia prohibiting the sale of RON95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles. The regulation has been in place since August 2010 as part of Malaysia’s effort to protect its fuel subsidy programme, which is meant to benefit Malaysian citizens.
RON95 Heavily Subsidised, Strictly For Locals
RON95 is Malaysia’s most affordable petrol type, sold at around RM2.05 per litre, which is roughly S$0.60—about three to four times cheaper than Singapore’s petrol prices. That difference is precisely why strict rules are in place, yet some individuals continue to test the limits.
While Malaysian petrol stations are required to put up clear signage stating the prohibition of RON95 sales to foreign vehicles, enforcement on the ground remains challenging. And with cross-border traffic steadily rising again, such cases are starting to resurface more frequently.
Abuse Undermines Bilateral Trust
This incident comes just days after Johor assemblyman Andrew Chen urged both the Singaporean and Malaysian governments to establish a joint regulatory framework for cross-border ride-hailing services, citing the need for cooperation instead of unilateral crackdowns.
But when it comes to fuel abuse, the sentiment among Malaysians is less forgiving. Many online commenters called for tighter enforcement, including blacklisting repeat offenders and increasing fines for petrol stations that allow such sales to go through.
Authorities from both sides have yet to comment officially on this specific case, but the public outcry sends a strong message: foreign motorists must respect the rules, especially when it involves heavily subsidised public resources.
Whether accidental or deliberate, such actions risk souring cross-border goodwill, especially as both countries work towards smoother economic and social cooperation in the post-pandemic era.