SHAH ALAM - Foreign vehicles owners have been filling up their gas tanks with subsidised RON95 fuel and the former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has expressed unhappiness over the act as they are not supposed to do so.
He shared a photo that has now gone viral of a Singaporean number plate vehicle filling up with gas at a petrol station.
Najib wrote in his Facebook page that if a foreigner were to buy 40 litres of RON95, Putrajaya would lose RM68 of the rakyat's money.
"Petrol RON95 is a controlled material because of the high subsidies. It is a violation of the Government Supply Control Act if selling RON95 to foreigners,” he said.
He added that the subsidised price for RON95 petrol in Malaysia is sold at around RFM2.05 the litre, the eleventh lowest in the world, less expensive even than in some oil-producing countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, UAE, Jordan, and Oman.
Najib further asked Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) ministry's enforcement unit to carry out an immediate probe on the matter.
KPDNHEP Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi was reported saying that said his ministry will ramp up monitoring and enforcement activities at all petrol stations, especially those near Malaysia's land borders.
He said petrol station operators that sell subsidised petrol to foreign-registered vehicles will face a maximum fine of RM2 million
Meanwhile, individuals breaching the law will face a maximum fine of RM1 million.
Malaysia reopened its borders after a two-year shutdown on April 1. Foreign vehicle owners are only allowed to buy RON97.