A Singapore-registered car that was allegedly seen refuelling with Malaysia’s subsidised RON95 petrol after taping over parts of its licence plate has now been spotted in Yishun, Singapore.
According to a widely shared social media post, the Volkswagen Jetta was seen parked near Block 233 Yishun Street 21. The post has garnered more than 16,000 reactions and over 5,000 shares, drawing attention from netizens in both Singapore and Malaysia.
The incident involving the vehicle occurred on Jan 2 at about 10.36pm in Malaysia. A video circulating online showed the Singapore-registered car being refuelled with RON95 petrol, which is strictly reserved for Malaysia-registered vehicles due to government subsidies.
In the footage, the first and last letters of the vehicle’s Singapore licence plate appeared to have been covered with black tape, allegedly to make it resemble a Malaysian number plate. The driver was confronted by a member of the public and asked if he was Singaporean, to which he replied that he was Malaysian, saying, “Confirm, confirm, 100 per cent.”
The confrontation escalated when the individual threatened to report the matter to the Malaysian police. A woman believed to be accompanying the driver attempted to intervene before rejoining the car, which then drove off.
Kulai district police chief Assistant Commissioner Tan Seng Lee later confirmed that the owner of the vehicle is a Singapore permanent resident. Police have since traced the individual, who is currently in Singapore, and instructed him to report to the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division at the Kulai District Police Headquarters to assist with investigations.
The case is being investigated under the Road Transport Act 1987. If convicted, offenders may face a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000, a jail term of between one and five years, or both.
