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PETALING JAYA: An effective mecha­nism to bar foreign-registered vehicles from filling up with the subsidised RON 95 petrol has yet to be found.

Time is critical as the Govern­ment’s ruling will come into effect in two weeks’ time on Aug 1.

Esso Petroleum Dealers Asso­ciation Malaysia president Alang Zari Ishak said discussions were ongoing between the Government and petroleum dealers.

The dealers do not know how the Government is going to implement the decision.

“When customers pays with their credit cards, the station cannot control which fuel they buy. They can pick up any nozzle, be it the ones for RON 95 or RON 97,” he told The Star.

On a proposal to ban foreign-based credit cards at the pump, Alang Zari said such a move might not be in line with national policy and had repercussions from neighbouring governments.

Following the first round of the recent subsidy rationalisation, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the sale of subsidised RON 95 petrol was strictly for Malaysian-registered vehicles.

He said foreigners could only buy the RON 97 petrol as the fuel was now subjected to a managed float.

Alang Zari, formerly the Petroleum Dealers Association of Malaysia president, said the initial proposal to use the MyKad was a possible solution although the move was objected by many parties.

Alang Zari said another option was to allocate each citizen a set monthly amount of subsidised fuel.

On a related matter, he pointed out there was an element of manipulation by oil companies before the adjustment in fuel prices.

“Before the price increase, there was no delivery of fuel. Excuses given included problems with transportation or depot.

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PUTRAJAYA: Petrol dealers risk losing their licence to sell fuel if they are found to be selling the subsidised RON95 to foreign-registered vehicles.

Domestic Trade, Consumerism and Co-operatives Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said the onus was on petrol station operators to ensure this ruling followed strictly.

“This ruling is easy to implement. Petrol station operators need to ensure that foreign-registered vehicles use the pumps that dispense RON97,” he said, adding that foreigners had no right to enjoy fuel subsidised by the Govern­ment.

“The Government wants only Malaysians to enjoy the subsidy. So, petrol dealers will have to be more vigilant and responsible in their business.

“If they fail to do so, they risk having their licence revoked,” he told reporters after a dialogue with food and drinks manufacturers and restaurant operators yesterday.

Ismail Sabri had announced recently that vehicles with foreign registration plates could only buy RON97 fuel starting Aug 1.

To complaints from petrol dealers that the ruling was difficult to enforce, the minister said this was much easier than the policy of allowing foreign-registered cars to buy only 20 litres of petrol within a 50km radius from border.

“We will have a dialogue with petrol dealers before this policy is enforced on Aug 1.

“We will also provide them with posters to inform foreign registered vehicle owners of this ruling,” he added.

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PETALING JAYA: Petrol dealers are asking for a month’s grace period to implement the ban on selling subsidised RON 95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles as they and their customers need time to adjust to the change.

Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman said the onus was on petrol stations to find a way to enforce the ban.

“At the beginning, I hope the Govern­ment will be a little lenient. You cannot be so strict. Give petrol stations an adjustment period of one month.

“Instead of a compound, maybe petrol stations can be given a warning letter (for selling RON 95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles),” he said.

He said some customers might not be aware of the change in policy, and would need time to adjust.

“We will deploy people to guide them and also put up signages. It may be hard to monitor during peak hours, so we may have to put extra staff on the job.

“But this doesn’t mean our overheads will rise as we can deploy the station clerk or even the cleaner,” he said.

Hashim said the only snag was the use of credit cards at the pump, as once the transaction is approved, the customer could choose to lift either the RON 95 or RON 97 nozzle.

Following the first round of the recent subsidy rationalisation, Domestic Trade, Coopera­tive and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the sale of subsidised RON 95 petrol was strictly for Malaysian-registered vehicles.

He said foreigners could only buy the RON 97 petrol as the fuel was now subjected to a managed float. The ruling comes into effect on Aug 1.

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PUTRAJAYA: The Aug 1 deadline barring the sale of RON 95 fuel to foreigners will not be extended, says Domestic Trade, Coopera­tive and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

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JOHOR BARU: Malaysians who drive foreign-registered vehicles can fill up with the RON95 subsidised petrol provided they show their MyKad at the kiosk.

The Government, said Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Mi­­nister Datuk Tan Lian Hoe, was aware that many Malaysians who work abroad also own foreign-registered vehicles.

“This is common in Johor, where those who work across the causeway own Singapore-registered vehicles,” she said yesterday.

Tan, however, warned them not to abuse the privilege by buying the cheaper fuel for their Singaporean friends or acquaintances.

“The ministry’s personnel will monitor petrol stations to prevent such abuse,” she said.

The ruling barring foreign-registered vehicles from buying RON95 petrol took effect on Aug 1, causing much headache for kiosk workers who had to attend to each car to screen if they are locally-registered.

The RON95 price of RM1.85 per litre in Malaysia is cheaper than in Singapore (RM4.30), Thailand (RM4.12), Indonesia (RM2.48) and the Philippines (RM6.60).

Meanwhile, the ministry’s Johor office said it would monitor the situation in the state.

State director Che Halim Abd Rahman said: “We want foreigners as well as petrol kiosk operators to know that our personnel are monitoring them.”

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JOHOR BARU: Malaysians using foreign registered-vehicles should report to the relevant authorities if they are refused by petrol kiosk owners to purchase RON 95 petrol even after producing their MyKad.

Johor Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs department director Che Halim Abdul Rahman said a directive had been circulated to all petrol kiosk owners and it should not be disregarded as a “mere rumour.”

“We hope that all petrol station owners strictly adhere to the new ruling and not impose restrictions of their own,” he said.

He added that any consumer facing problems purchasing fuel even after producing their MyKad at kiosks should immediately contact the department who would then take further action.

“We have a team of personnel specially responsible for observing and ensuring that the new ruling is implemented,” he said, adding that consumers should do their part and report to the department if they are not allowed to fuel up.

He, however, added that if petrol kiosk owners were still finding it hard to verify if a consumer was local or not, consumers might have to produce their vehicle’s registration papers and MyKad before being allowed to purchase fuel.

Che Halim urged anyone with queries pertaining to the new ruling to contact the department at 07-2272828.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs ministry prohibited foreign registered vehicles from filling up with the RON95 subsidised petrol from Aug 1.

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