KUALA LUMPUR: Petrol stations located in border states like
Johor and Perlis will be barred from selling petrol and diesel to
foreign-registered cars starting Friday.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Samad
said the move, aimed at plugging loopholes in the current subsidy
system, was decided during an anti-inflation committee meeting
yesterday.
The ban will involve between 200 and 300 petrol stations in
Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Perak and the Johor Baru and Kulai areas
in Johor.
Currently, petrol stations are not allowed to sell more then 20
litres of petrol to foreign vehicles.
"This move is temporary until we come up with better management
of our subsidy system," he told reporters.
At present, Shahrir said too many foreign-registered cars,
particularly those from neighbouring countries, had been crossing
into Malaysia to take advantage of the lower fuel and diesel
prices.
"I have been instructed to use my power under the Control of
Supply Act to direct and ban the sale of subsidised fuel to these
foreign cars. This applies to petrol stations located as far as
50km from the border," he said.
Besides the northern states and the Johor Baru and Kulai areas
of Johor, Shahrir said he was also studying if the ban should
include petrol stations in Pontian.
He said the petrol stations would be notified by the ministry to
adhere to the move.
Shahrir said that besides putting up signboards informing
motorists of this new ruling, enforcement officers would also be
stationed at the petrol stations to ensure businesses complied with
the ruling.
"I will inform my officers about this latest decision and it
will take effect by Friday or the latest Monday," he said.
Shahrir said those caught flouting the ruling could be fined up
to RM250,000.
However, he said foreign-registered vehicles which entered the
country for tourism purposes could still fill up their tanks in
places like Penang and Malacca where the ban would not apply.
"They should enter the country with full tanks and they have to
plan their journey," he said.
In Johor Baru, petrol station owners and managers were shocked
with the announcement.
Petrol dealer Andy Wong said such a decision had huge
implications on petrol station owners as a large number of stations
situated near the Causeway depended heavily on their Singaporean
clientele.
"If it is within 50km, then the whole of Johor Baru is
affected," he said when met at his station last night.
Other petrol station owners said they were awaiting more
information.
One petrol station manager, whose station services hundreds of
Singapore-registered vehicles daily, said: "So far, talks have only
been about petrol subsidies. This has never been spoken about."
He said petrol station owners had not been consulted about the
matter.
http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20080527-67210.html
