The Sun
By Husna Yusof and Timothy Leonard
Ismail said Singapore-registered cars were exempted from the ruling because of a policy by the Singapore government.
The Singapore government has imposed a directive that does not allow any Singapore-registered vehicle to leave the republic without three-quarters of a tank of fuel.
"If they (Singaporeans) come to JB (Johor Baru) just for a short trip, they will still have a substantial amount of fuel left when they leave, so they are exempted from the ruling of having 20 litres in their tanks," he said.
“When they leave, they will still have a substantial amount of oil left, so if we impose the 20-litres limitation, it will cause problems because that oil must have been purchased in Singapore.
“However, if they want to refill in any border towns, the stations have been instructed not to fill in more than 20 litres."
He said any petrol station caught disobeying the regulation will be fined RM250,000 while individuals will be fined RM100,000 or jailed for up to three years, or both.
There are 493 petrol stations in border toowns in the peninsula and six in Sarawak.
Bukit Kayu Hitam and Changlun in Kedah, Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Pengkalan Hulu in Perak are among the three Malaysia-Thailand border towns that are hot spots for foreign cars, taxis and vans to fill up petrol at 'Malaysian' prices.
TheSun learnt that on a daily basis, dozens of Thai-registered vehicles, especially taxis and vans make their way in and out of Malaysia ferrying passengers.
Those coming in from Haadyai, Thailand pass through Bukit Kayu Hitam while those from Sungai Golok pass through Rantau Panjang while those from Betong and Yala through Pengkalan Hulu.
And there are several petrol stations available in these towns, making it easy for foreign-registered vehicles to fill up their tanks.
Since fuel prices in Thailand is 30-40% pricier than in Malaysia, many Thai drivers make it a point to fill up their petrol tanks to the brim with Malaysian fuel before heading back.
By Husna Yusof and Timothy Leonard
KUALA LUMPUR (Dec 15, 2009): THE government will limit the sale of petrol and diesel to foreign vehicles within a 50km radius of the borders starting tomorrow.
Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Affairs Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the order will be issued to all petrol stations in border towns, and notices will be put up to inform users of foreign-registered vehicles.
Last week, Ismail announced that the ministry had decided that each foreign vehicle coming to border towns would be allowed to buy only 20 litres of petrol or diesel.
Upon leaving, they would also be allowed to fill up to 20 litres of petrol or diesel.
Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Affairs Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the order will be issued to all petrol stations in border towns, and notices will be put up to inform users of foreign-registered vehicles.
Last week, Ismail announced that the ministry had decided that each foreign vehicle coming to border towns would be allowed to buy only 20 litres of petrol or diesel.
Upon leaving, they would also be allowed to fill up to 20 litres of petrol or diesel.
Ismail said Singapore-registered cars were exempted from the ruling because of a policy by the Singapore government.
The Singapore government has imposed a directive that does not allow any Singapore-registered vehicle to leave the republic without three-quarters of a tank of fuel.
"If they (Singaporeans) come to JB (Johor Baru) just for a short trip, they will still have a substantial amount of fuel left when they leave, so they are exempted from the ruling of having 20 litres in their tanks," he said.
“When they leave, they will still have a substantial amount of oil left, so if we impose the 20-litres limitation, it will cause problems because that oil must have been purchased in Singapore.
“However, if they want to refill in any border towns, the stations have been instructed not to fill in more than 20 litres."
He said any petrol station caught disobeying the regulation will be fined RM250,000 while individuals will be fined RM100,000 or jailed for up to three years, or both.
There are 493 petrol stations in border toowns in the peninsula and six in Sarawak.
Bukit Kayu Hitam and Changlun in Kedah, Rantau Panjang in Kelantan and Pengkalan Hulu in Perak are among the three Malaysia-Thailand border towns that are hot spots for foreign cars, taxis and vans to fill up petrol at 'Malaysian' prices.
TheSun learnt that on a daily basis, dozens of Thai-registered vehicles, especially taxis and vans make their way in and out of Malaysia ferrying passengers.
Those coming in from Haadyai, Thailand pass through Bukit Kayu Hitam while those from Sungai Golok pass through Rantau Panjang while those from Betong and Yala through Pengkalan Hulu.
And there are several petrol stations available in these towns, making it easy for foreign-registered vehicles to fill up their tanks.
Since fuel prices in Thailand is 30-40% pricier than in Malaysia, many Thai drivers make it a point to fill up their petrol tanks to the brim with Malaysian fuel before heading back.
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