Singapore-Registered Mercedes Driver Sparks Outrage After Allegedly Pumping Subsidised Ron95 in Malaysia
A driver of a Singapore-registered Mercedes-Benz has gone viral online after allegedly pumping subsidised Ron95 petrol at a petrol station in Malaysia, triggering anger among Malaysian netizens and reigniting debate over fuel subsidy abuse involving foreign vehicles.
The incident reportedly took place at a BHP petrol station in Ayer Tawar, Perak, around 60km from Ipoh. A video uploaded to Facebook on May 13 quickly spread across social media platforms, attracting more than a million views within a day.
In the footage, a man recording the scene confronts a middle-aged woman driving a Singapore-registered Mercedes-Benz GLC after noticing she was allegedly filling the luxury SUV with Ron95 fuel, which is heavily subsidised by the Malaysian government and reserved strictly for Malaysian citizens.
The man also accused the driver of opening the car boot in an apparent attempt to partially conceal the vehicle’s Singapore licence plate while refuelling.
According to the video, the woman repeatedly apologised in Malay and claimed she was unaware of the regulations. However, the man filming rejected her explanation, insisting that foreign drivers should already know that Singapore-registered vehicles are prohibited from purchasing subsidised fuel in Malaysia.
Malaysian Netizens Demand Stricter Enforcement
The viral clip sparked intense criticism online, with many Malaysians expressing frustration over foreigners allegedly taking advantage of taxpayer-funded fuel subsidies.
Some commenters accused the driver of exploiting Malaysia’s lower fuel prices despite coming from a wealthier country. Others demanded harsher penalties against both the driver and the petrol station operator for allowing the transaction to happen.
A number of social media users also criticised the petrol station staff, arguing that attendants should have immediately recognised the Singapore licence plate and refused to pump Ron95 into the vehicle.
Malaysia’s subsidised Ron95 petrol is currently priced at RM1.99 per litre, which converts to approximately S$0.61 per litre. In comparison, fuel prices in Singapore remain significantly higher due to taxes and market pricing.
Under Malaysian regulations, foreign-registered vehicles, including those from Singapore, are only permitted to purchase Ron97 or premium-grade fuel.
Malaysia Tightens Laws Against Fuel Subsidy Abuse
The controversy comes shortly after Malaysia strengthened enforcement measures surrounding the misuse of subsidised petrol.
Since April 1, 2026, Malaysian authorities can now take action against both the driver of a foreign-registered vehicle and the petrol station operator if Ron95 is sold illegally to foreigners.
Previously, only petrol stations faced penalties.
Under the revised laws, offenders can face fines of up to RM1 million, equivalent to around S$324,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both.
The latest viral case has once again placed cross-border fuel policies under public scrutiny, especially as many Singaporean drivers continue travelling into Malaysia regularly for cheaper petrol, food, shopping, and vehicle-related expenses.
This is not the first time such incidents have surfaced online. Earlier this year, another Singapore-registered vehicle was similarly filmed allegedly pumping Ron95 fuel just days before the tougher regulations officially came into effect.
While authorities have yet to publicly confirm whether enforcement action will be taken in this latest case, the incident has already become one of the most talked-about cross-border controversies on Malaysian social media this week.