A Malaysian man driving a Singapore-registered Mercedes-Benz has gone viral after being caught allegedly using Malaysia’s subsidised RON95 petrol at a Johor petrol station, reigniting discussions about cross-border fuel subsidies and loopholes in enforcement systems.
The incident reportedly took place at the Pagoh rest stop along the North-South Expressway in Johor. A bystander photographed the Singapore-plated vehicle while it was refuelling and shared the image online, claiming the driver ignored reminders that foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed to purchase RON95 fuel.
According to reports, the driver allegedly responded by saying he was Malaysian and therefore qualified for the subsidy. The exchange quickly triggered backlash online, with many Malaysians criticising what they saw as abuse of the country’s fuel subsidy system.
Under Malaysia’s updated fuel regulations introduced on Apr. 1, petrol stations are prohibited from selling subsidised RON95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles, regardless of the driver’s nationality. Violators can face hefty penalties, including fines of up to RM1 million (around S$321,000), jail terms of up to three years, or both.
Driver Says It Was An Honest Mistake
The driver later issued a public clarification on social media, insisting that the incident was a misunderstanding rather than an intentional attempt to exploit subsidised fuel prices.
He explained that he had been living and working in Singapore for a long period and had not returned to Kuala Lumpur since September 2025. Because of that, he claimed he was unaware of the updated rules involving RON95 petrol sales to foreign-registered vehicles.
According to the driver, the petrol station system requested a Malaysian credit card and required him to scan his MyKad before allowing the transaction to proceed. Since the system approved the purchase without any warnings, he assumed he was eligible to continue refuelling.
The man admitted the incident was an “oversight” on his part and said he did not intentionally try to break the law.
He also rejected allegations that he became aggressive when confronted by the bystander. Instead, he claimed he only replied that he was Malaysian before the individual walked away without listening to his full explanation.
Driver Paid Difference After Being Alerted
After realising he was being filmed, the driver said he approached the petrol station counter for clarification. Staff then informed him that Singapore-registered vehicles were not permitted to use RON95 fuel.
He subsequently paid the difference in cash based on the higher-priced RON97 rate. Since the station’s system could not generate an updated receipt, the driver photographed the payment record and later lodged a police report to document the matter.
According to him, police officers reviewed the evidence and concluded there was no criminal intent after verifying that the price difference had already been settled.
The driver also alleged that the person who filmed the video witnessed him paying the additional amount but omitted that detail when sharing the incident online.
Incident Highlights Ongoing Cross-Border Fuel Tensions
The case has once again highlighted the sensitivity surrounding Malaysia’s petrol subsidies, especially in Johor where many Singapore-registered vehicles travel daily.
RON95 petrol remains heavily subsidised by the Malaysian government and is significantly cheaper than fuel prices in Singapore. As a result, enforcement against misuse by foreign vehicles has become increasingly strict in recent years.
The incident has also sparked discussions online about whether petrol station systems should automatically block foreign-registered vehicles instead of relying on drivers to self-comply with regulations.