The government is in the midst of identifying a suitable location in Johor Bahru for a non-subsidised petrol station to prevent foreigners from filling their vehicles with the subsidised RON95 petrol.
The study is being carried out by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) and would be the third such petrol station after the previous two that were opened in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis by the ministry under a pilot project.
As reported by BERNAMA, KPDN Minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that the Johor Bahru district was selected because of its proximity to the Malaysia-Singapore border and that many vehicles from the republic fill up petrol there.
He asserted,
“The pilot project of opening two (such) petrol stations in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis, has helped to save nearly RM6 million in the government’s fuel subsidy allocation.
“In Johor Bahru, we are doing a detailed study and if there is a suitable place, we will open it to prevent or minimise the purchase of subsidised petrol (by owners of foreign-registered vehicles),”
Salahuddin has also issued a reminder that foreign-registered vehicles are not allowed to fill up RON95, including purchasing them in containers as the subsidy is only for Malaysians.
He also touched upon the viral video of a Singaporean who wanted to buy petrol to be used in a go-kart, asserting that his ministry is waiting for a report from Johor KPDN.
Should the petrol station owner be found to have committed an offence, they will be prosecuted according to the law.
In regards to non-subsidised petrol stations, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said KPDN had previously announced that the government is in the final stages of finalising the implementation of non-subsidised petrol stations in several other states after the pilot project was implemented in Perlis.
So, what do you guys think of the plans to open non-subsidised petrol stations near our borders? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.