“Singaporeans Filmed Pumping Ron95 Petrol in JB Confronted by Angry Local”

It’s no secret that Malaysians are unhappy when Singaporeans take advantage of subsidized Ron95 petrol. A recent incident in Johor Bahru highlighted this tension when a delivery rider confronted two Singaporeans filling a container with petrol at a Caltex station.

According to China Press, the confrontation took place last Friday (June 16) around 10:37 PM at a petrol station near Sunway City Iskandar Puteri. Videos from the incident show the delivery rider shouting at the Singaporean men in Malay while they were pumping petrol.

In the footage, one of the Singaporeans was seen pointing at the rider while attending to his car boot. Another approached the rider but was stopped by police present at the scene. Tensions escalated as one of the Singaporeans shouted back, “What do you want?” while speaking with the officers, occasionally pointing at the rider, who continued to scold him.

The rider accused the Singaporeans of intending to use a “weapon” against him and threatened to report the incident to the police. As the situation heated up, one of the Singaporeans angrily told the rider, “You better delete [the video].” There was an attempt to snatch the rider’s phone, but police intervened.

Permission from Petrol Station Staff
The Singaporeans claimed they had received permission from the petrol station to take the Ron95 petrol. “We asked the petrol kiosk if we could take the petrol, and they said okay. Then this [delivery rider] came here scolding us,” one of the men explained, visibly frustrated.

Assistant Superintendent Ramad Ariffin, Iskandar Puteri’s police district director, stated that the incident stemmed from a misunderstanding. He clarified that the men intended to use the petrol for go-karts rather than for vehicles.

Regulatory Concerns
Since the borders reopened in April 2022, Malaysia’s Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has expressed its commitment to stopping the sale of subsidized petrol like Ron95 to foreign-registered vehicles. Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi emphasized that state offices bordering Singapore and Thailand have been ordered to intensify monitoring and take strict action against violators.

Petrol station owners found selling Ron95 to foreign vehicles could face investigation under the Control of Supplies Act. Penalties for individuals can reach up to RM1 million (S$288,000), with potential jail time of three years, while companies could face fines up to RM2 million.