PUMPING petrol is one of those tasks Malaysians do on autopilot: insert nozzle, watch the numbers climb, pay and go.
But a viral video showing a man apparently being charged for diesel that never made it into his tank has left drivers across the country eyeing their fuel pumps with fresh suspicion.
Did a man really pay for diesel but leave empty-handed at a petrol station in Kuala Lumpur?
Verdict:
FALSE
According to Bernama, a man was initially charged over RM200 for diesel at a petrol station in Jalan Segambut, Kuala Lumpur, before being refunded as the fuel supply at the station had run out halfway through refuelling.
The incident, which had gone viral on social media, had prompted an investigation by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, said that the customer was accidentally charged because of the absence of an automatic volume detection system, and not due to deliberate fraud.
"Further investigations revealed that the station was not equipped with an automatic volume detection system or an automatic cut-off feature when fuel runs out, and instead relied on manual dipping," she said in a statement on Sunday (April 12).
Fuziah said checks confirmed that the actual amount of diesel dispensed was RM232.07.
"The station took prompt action by issuing a full refund to the affected customer on April 9, 2026, and the complainant agreed to the resolution," she said.
However, the viral video had no mention of the refund.
Fuziah added that technical inspections by the ministry found all fuel pumps at the premises were still within the valid verification period.
"Tests using a 20-litre Liquid Volume Measure (SIC) showed readings within the permitted margin of error," she said.
Further checks confirmed that the station's licences under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and the Petroleum Development Act 1974 remain valid.
"However, the station has been given a stern warning to fully comply with all regulations and to improve operational monitoring to prevent a recurrence," she said.
Fuziah stressed that the incident was isolated and does not reflect the overall fuel supply system, which remains stable and under control.
The public has been advised not to speculate or spread unverified information.
"The ministry will continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement to safeguard consumer interests," she said.
