MP Suggests Blacklisting Foreign Vehicles Caught Abusing Budi95

Subsidised RON95 petrol continue to be abused by foreigners in foreign-registered vehicles in Malaysia. Now, an MP has mooted the idea of black-listing these vehicle owners from entering the country.

Late last week, PH Tebrau parliamentary representative jimmy Puah Wee Tse had reportedly suggested the government to amend existing law to penalise foreign vehicle owners for flouting with Budi95 subsidy – not just hold petrol station operators liable.

Puah had reportedly proposed in Dewan Rakyat that owners of foreign-registered vehicles caught pumping subsidised RON95 petrol to be blacklisted from entering Malaysia by up to a period of two years.

Besides that, Puah had also mooted for the government to consider installing clear signage at land entry points indicating foreign-registered vehicles can only refuel with unsubsidised RON97 petrol instead.

Presently, subsidised RON95 petrol costs RM1.99 per litre. It is only accessible with MyKad verification either via terminals at the pumps or over the counter during payments.

“This is not a matter of discrimination. All Malaysians and foreign nationals in our country must adhere to the law,” said Puah further. His calls for stricter penalties comes amidst increase of viral cases where foreign vehicles are sighted fuelling with RON95 in Malaysia.

Errant foreigners have even gone to great lengths to access subsidised RON95 petrol in Malaysia – switching or ‘disguising’ licence plates to look like Malaysian plates, as well as abusing social or family connections who hold a MyKad (Malaysian NRIC).

Presently, subsidised RON95 petrol retails for RM1.99 per litre. Access to which requires verification using MyKad either at the pump’s payment terminal or during payments done over the counter. Sans subsidy, RON95 petrol costs RM2.54 per litre instead.

One recent viral case saw a foreign-registered (Singapore) vehicle donning a 'diguised' licence plate to look like a Malaysian-registered vehicle to access subsidised RON95.

With the revised and now targeted RON95 fuel subsidy in place, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) had reportedly said last month it could help the government save up to RM4 billion annually without raising the nation’s debt further.

Do you agree with this suggestion by the PH Tebrau parliamentary rep? What other ways should the government and law enforcement agencies consider to monitor and curb Budi95 abuse by foreigners? Share your take in the comments below…