Seal of approval: A petrol station displaying verification stickers after checks were done in Petaling Jaya. — FAIHAN GHANI/The Star
PETALING JAYA: The implementation of subsidised fuel for Malaysians has left some crying foul that they are being shortchanged when they buy RON95, whether intentionally or otherwise.
A reader of The Star, Yong Kong Meng, claimed that there has been malpractice in handling change when one uses cash at petrol stations.
On Oct 23, Yong handed the cashier RM50, expecting to be sold 25.125 litres of RON95 (at RM1.99 per litre).
“However, my car tank was full at 22.165 litres, leaving a balance of 2.96 litres (RM5.89) of paid-for fuel.
“When I requested a refund, the cashier refused, saying ‘No refund. Sorry, that is how it works, but you can try to fill until 25 litres’.
“This happened even after I explained that the tank was full and the pump had stopped dispensing,” said Yong, who did the transaction at a petrol station in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.
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To make matters worse, when he asked for the Budi Madani RON95 receipt, the cashier questioned why he hadn’t requested it earlier.
“She initially refused to reprint until I insisted that it could be done without any issue,” said Yong, who was also miffed when he attempted to call the fuel company using the phone numbers provided, only to find the two numbers – one for a fixed line and the other a mobile line – do not work.
The Star also had the same experience when it called those numbers.
“I believe this practice is entirely wrong, and if the petrol station fails to take proper action to address the issue, it is effectively profiting from unsuspecting customers.
“It is crucial for the public to be aware of their right to request a refund for unused petrol and not be discouraged by cashiers who claim that refunds are not possible” he said.
On Oct 5, Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said motorists who are affected by technical glitches and paid unsubsidised RON95 prices can file a claim to recover the difference.
She said that apart from “a few minor glitches”, which were quickly resolved, the Budi95 programme has been running smoothly nationwide since it was introduced on Sept 30.
On Oct 1, Proton X50 user Liang Poesy claimed she was ripped off by a petrol station in Johor when she was driving from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore.
“Today, I pumped petrol under the subsidised price for the first time and paid the most I’ve ever paid (using a debit card).
“My tank wasn’t empty but they managed to fill 52 litres into my tank,” said Liang, adding that the problem here is that her car’s fuel tank capacity is only 45 litres.
“The pump attendant helped me (a wheelchair user) pump RON95 under the Budi95 scheme.
“To my surprise, they claimed to have pumped 52.44 litres. Furthermore, my X50 app showed that my petrol tank had only 43.5 litres,” she told The Star.
After lodging a police report, she followed up with a formal complaint with KPDN, which got in touch with her on Oct 14.
“The officer reported that checks were done at the station in question, and there were no major inconsistencies in the quantity pumped out of their meters.
“However, he acknowledged that my case is an anomaly that has no logical explanation,” she said, with her account of the incident now widely shared on X50 owner groups on social media.
Liang’s story had a somewhat pleasant ending, as the petrol station owner offered to refund her RM20.
On social media, there have been posts claiming cheating at the pump, both in terms of quantity and quality.
When contacted, president of the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) Datuk Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz said PDAM believes that petrol station operators are honest and professional in their dealings with end consumers.
“All fuel dispensers in Malaysia are tested and verified under the legal metrology regime, with calibration conducted by certified measurement service providers under the oversight of KPDN’s enforcement division.
“Each dispenser bears a verification sticker showing the date of inspection and expiry, and pumps are calibrated yearly to ensure measurement accuracy.
“It is also important to note that vehicle digital fuel gauges are not certified measurement instruments – they are indicative only and can vary significantly between vehicle models,” he said when asked to comment on recent viral claims, including those where individuals feel they receive “less fuel” when paying RM50.
“As the KPDN minister rightly pointed out, no wrongdoing has been found after official investigations, which supports PDAM’s confidence that petrol dealers are not shortchanging the public.
“To accurately determine whether one receives less fuel, consumers should measure by volume (litres) rather than by ringgit spent,” he added.
