A video circulating on social media has sparked public outrage after a man was allegedly caught attempting to refuel subsidised RON95 petrol by disguising his Singapore-registered car as a Malaysian vehicle at a petrol station in Kulai, Johor.
The incident is believed to have occurred on January 3, 2026, and involved a Volkswagen Jetta bearing a Singapore number plate. In the video, parts of the vehicle’s registration — specifically the front prefix “S” and the last suffix “M” — were seen taped over, making the plate appear incomplete at a glance.
The man was filmed using the yellow nozzle, which dispenses RON95 petrol reserved exclusively for Malaysian-registered vehicles due to government subsidies.
When confronted by a Malaysian man who noticed the taped number plate, the driver denied being Singaporean.
“No. I’m Malaysian. Confirm 100%. We’re Malaysians,” he was heard saying.
The confrontation escalated when the Malaysian man pointed out the covered number plate and warned that the incident would be reported to the authorities. He was also heard questioning the petrol station attendant for allowing the refuelling to proceed without proper checks.
The video quickly gained traction online, triggering heated debate and criticism from netizens. Many stressed that the issue was not the driver’s nationality, but the vehicle’s registration status.
In Malaysia, RON95 petrol is heavily subsidised and strictly restricted to vehicles registered in the country. Foreign-registered vehicles, including those from Singapore, are prohibited from using RON95 and are only allowed to purchase higher-grade fuel such as RON97 or RON100 at market prices. Petrol stations use colour-coded nozzles — yellow for RON95 and green for higher-grade fuel — to prevent misuse.
Netizens accused the driver of deliberately taping the number plate to deceive station staff and bypass the subsidy rules. Others questioned the tactic, noting that Malaysian vehicle registrations do not begin with the letter “L,” which ultimately led to the confrontation.
Some commenters urged the public to take action if similar incidents occur, suggesting the use of the emergency stop button at fuel pumps and reporting the matter to station staff or authorities. Others criticised petrol stations for lax enforcement and called for stricter monitoring, particularly in Johor, where such cases are frequently reported.
As of now, it remains unclear whether any official action has been taken in connection with the incident.
