Johor Bahru, October 1–2, 2025 — A video recently went viral showing a Singapore-registered car driver refueling with RON95 subsidized petrol at local petrol stations in Johor. This sparked outrage among Malaysians, as such actions are strictly prohibited under government regulations.
Incident at Johor Petrol Stations
According to reports, one incident happened in the early hours of October 1, around 3:55 a.m., at a petrol station in the Plentong area of Johor Bahru. A driver of a Singapore-registered vehicle was caught on camera refueling with RON95 subsidized petrol.
When confronted by a concerned citizen, the driver reportedly ignored the warning and even responded to the petrol station staff by asking, “Cannot ah?”.
The video was later uploaded to social media, quickly drawing strong reactions from netizens. Many condemned the act as “intentional rule-breaking”, while others criticized the petrol station staff for negligence in allowing the transaction to proceed.
Government Response
On October 2, Johor’s Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Department Director, confirmed that enforcement officers had been sent to investigate another petrol station, located in Taman Sierra Perdana, Pasir Gudang.
She emphasized that if the station operator is found to have been negligent in enforcing the rules, further action will be taken. This could include opening an investigation file and referring the case to the Deputy Public Prosecutor for legal action.
At the same time, the department reminded the public that foreign-registered vehicles are strictly prohibited from purchasing RON95 subsidized petrol in Malaysia. Singaporean vehicles are only allowed to purchase RON97 fuel.
Why This Is a Big Issue
Under the BUDI 95 fuel subsidy program, qualified Malaysian citizens enjoy RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per liter. Foreigners, however, must pay RM2.60 per liter. To ensure fairness and prevent subsidy abuse, all foreign-registered vehicles are banned from buying RON95—regardless of whether the driver is Malaysian or not.
With over 272 petrol stations in Johor alone, authorities admit it is challenging to monitor every location around the clock. However, they promised stricter enforcement, particularly at petrol stations near the Malaysia–Singapore border, to prevent such violations.
Public Reaction
Netizens were quick to voice their frustrations online. Some called the driver’s actions “knowingly breaking the law,” while others demanded stricter enforcement to prevent subsidy abuse. Several users also tagged the police and the Domestic Trade Department in related posts, urging authorities to take firm action.
At the same time, many believe petrol station operators should be more vigilant and immediately stop fueling if they notice a foreign-registered vehicle attempting to pump RON95.