A foreign driver has been fined RM20,000 by the Sessions Court after being found guilty of improperly purchasing subsidised RON95 petrol for a vehicle registered in Singapore. The court also ordered a three-month jail term in default of payment.
The sentence was handed down by Judge Datuk Che Wan Zaidi Che Wan Ibrahim after the accused, a man in his 50s who is also the owner and driver of the vehicle, pleaded guilty to the charge during proceedings held recently. He subsequently settled the fine on the same day.
The offence occurred on April 9 when enforcement officers from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), conducting Op Tiris 4.0, detected the Singapore-registered vehicle refuelling at a petrol station in Johor. Authorities later confirmed that the act involved the misuse of subsidised RON95 fuel, which is restricted for local use.
Cases involving controlled fuel continue to draw attention as authorities intensify monitoring efforts across border states. Officials have repeatedly stressed that enforcement actions are necessary to prevent leakage of subsidised goods, which are intended to support Malaysian consumers.
Investigations showed the act was committed under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, which prohibits the purchase of subsidised petrol using foreign-registered vehicles. The case was prosecuted by Deputy Public Prosecutor Nur Sulehan Abd Rahman, while the accused was represented by defence counsel.
Johor KPDN director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said the successful prosecution reflects the ministry’s ongoing commitment to curbing leakage of controlled items and safeguarding national supply stability. She added that the public is encouraged to report any suspected misuse of controlled goods through official KPDN channels, including WhatsApp, the e-Complaint portal, hotline services and the Ez ADU KPDN mobile application.
