Overview
- Spot checks in Johor Bahru found Singapore-issued cards still worked at dispensers for RON97 despite a new curb on foreign cards at pumps.
- The restriction applies to subsidised RON95, which now requires foreigners to pay at the station counter rather than directly at self-service dispensers.
- Foreign-registered vehicles have long been barred from buying RON95, and Malaysia has drafted rules to make offending buyers, not just stations, legally liable.
- Big price gaps are driving the rush across the Causeway, with RON97 in Malaysia around RM5.15 per litre compared with roughly S$3.40 for RON95 in Singapore.
- Dealers say the payment curb helps enforcement, while consumer groups warn about loopholes such as using locals to transact and flag possible steps toward broader subsidy changes.