KULAI, January 4, 2024 – A Singapore permanent resident is at the center of a developing investigation after allegedly pumping subsidized RON95 petrol into a Singapore-registered vehicle. The incident, which quickly spread across social media, raises questions about fuel fraud and cross-border violations.
Fuel Subsidies and Cross-Border Concerns
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A viral video sparked a police investigation into the alleged misuse of Malaysian fuel subsidies.
- A Singapore-registered car was reportedly filled with RON95 petrol, a fuel intended for malaysian vehicles.
- The vehicle’s registration number appeared to have been partially obscured.
- Police have identified the vehicle owner as a Singapore permanent resident and requested their cooperation.
- The case is being investigated under the Road Transport Act for vehicle registration tampering.
Kulai police chief tan Seng Lee confirmed that authorities have located the vehicle owner in Singapore and have directed them to appear at the Kulai police headquarters to assist with the investigation, according to a statement released on January 4. The incident centers around the illegal purchase of RON95 petrol – a fuel heavily subsidized for Malaysian citizens with locally registered vehicles – by a foreign-registered car.
Q: What’s the core issue in this case?
A: the primary concern is the alleged fraudulent acquisition of subsidized fuel intended solely for Malaysian citizens by a driver using a Singapore-registered vehicle and attempting to conceal their license plate.
Registration Tampering and Legal Repercussions
The case is currently being investigated under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act, which pertains to exhibiting an altered or tampered vehicle registration number. Assistant Commissioner Tan cautioned the public against altering vehicle registration plates, emphasizing that such actions are illegal.
The incident came to light on January 3 when a one-minute video began circulating widely on social media platforms. The footage appeared to show a man filling a car with a partially obscured registration number with RON95 fuel.An unidentified voice in the video can be heard questioning the man about his nationality, to which he reportedly responded that he was Malaysian.
Ministry Investigation
Following the viral spread of the video and subsequent complaints, the Johor branch of the Domestic trade and Cost of Living Ministry initiated inspections and investigations at the petrol station involved.Director Lilis Saslinda pornomo stated that action has been taken regarding an alleged violation of the directive issued by the Controller of Supplies, specifically the prohibition of selling RON95 petrol to vehicles with foreign registration.
Authorities are urging anyone with information related to this incident to come forward as the investigation continues. The case underscores the ongoing challenges in preventing fuel fraud and ensuring that subsidies reach their intended recipients.
