THE lack of manpower makes it difficult for petrol stations to monitor and stop the purchase of the subsidised RON95 fuel by foreigners, petrol dealers said today.

“It is almost impossible for our cashier to look at the number plate of the car or even what petrol the foreigner is filling up,” Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia president Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz told The Malaysian Insight.

He also said that the reopening of international borders on Friday had also seen an increase in foreign registered cars in petrol stations, especially in Johor.

“Even prior to the border reopening, we had manpower issues, and now with borders opening with more customers arriving, it is harder to monitor.

“If the customer pays by cash, at least it will be easier for the cashier to monitor but when they use their credit card it is harder for us,” he said.

Khairul also said a payment system can be introduced to prevent purchases using foreign credit cards for the purchase of RON95 fuel.

He suggested that perhaps the government can introduce technology such as nano-tags.

Earlier today, former prime minister Najib Razak said foreign-registered vehicles must not be allowed to take advantage of fuel subsidies that are supposed to be for Malaysians.

According to Najib, the authorities and fuel companies must stop this abuse, especially as Malaysia reopened its borders on Friday.

“If a foreigner fills up his tank with 40 litres of RON95, the government will lose RM68.

“With the reopening of our borders, I believe the authorities and petrol stations will monitor this situation tightly,” he said in his Facebook posting, referring to a viral image of a driver from a neighbouring country filling up a vehicle with RON95 at a Malaysian petrol station.

Subsidies for RON95 and diesel are in place, capping them at RM2.05 and RM2.15 a litre, respectively.

As a result of this subsidy, foreign vehicles are not allowed to buy RON95 or diesel.

However, there is no prohibition for RON97 petrol because it is not subsidised.

The retail price for RON97 this week is RM3.91.

The price of RON95 in Singapore was S$3.02 (RM9.37) a litre, while RON97 was S$3.51. – April 3, 2022.