Malaysians with foreign-registered cars need to show MyKad to purchase RON 95

KOTA KINABALU: Effective Sunday, Malaysian citizens driving foreign-registered cars will be required to show their identity card (MyKad) before they are allowed to purchase the RON95 petrol.

This follows the ruling which came into effect whereby only Malaysian citizens are allowed to purchase the RON95 petrol, while foreigners can only purchase the RON97.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who announced the new ruling on July 16, said the Government realised that many Malaysians working in Singapore owned Singapore-registered cars and travelled frequently to Johor Baru.

“So, they just have to show their identity card at petrol stations because we want to make sure that RON95 petrol is sold only to Malaysians,” he told reporters after opening the Sabah Coop Fest 2010 here Sunday.

He said the ministry would also deploy its enforcement officers to several petrol stations at borders to ensure that the new ruling was being adhered to.

Meanwhile, in Johor Baru, Bernama found that motorists from Singapore had no problems in getting their fuel supply as most of them had been using RON97 instead of RON95.

Noorini Adam, 35, from Singapore, said she had no problem adhering to the new ruling as the fuel sold here was still cheaper than those in Singapore.

“It’s alright; as long as we are allowed to purchase the fuel here,” said the housewife who enters Malaysia fortnightly.

A supervisor at a petrol station near the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex here, Mahrop Md Salleh, 21, said they had no problem in implementing the new ruling although the number of foreign vehicles refuelling at the station could reach hundreds daily.

“We will inform them about the new ruling. The station also has additional RON97 pumps for the convenience of the customers,” he said.

In Bukit Kayu Hitam, a petrol station manager, Low Ewa Chye, said that most of his foreign customers did not mind when told that they could only purchase the RON97 petrol.

“Between 30 and 40 foreigners get their vehicles refuelled here daily, including from Thailand and Singapore,” he said.

A pump attendant, Siti Haida Mat, said some of the foreigners cancelled their intention to refuel when told about the new ruling.

“Then they tried to fill up at other petrol stations thinking that the ruling did not apply there. Some even asked how long the ruling would last, but most of them didn’t mind and just purchase the RON97,” she said.

In Rantau Panjang, Bernama checks found that several petrol stations were quieter than usual as it is learnt many foreigners had their cars refuelled before the ruling took effect.