Singaporean Motorist Arrested in Johor as Malaysia Commences Strict Enforcement of Ron95 Foreign Vehicle Ban

A Singaporean man is the first arrested under Johor's new Ron95 ban. His car was seized after being caught pumping subsidised fuel in Malaysia.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 11, 2026, 9:25 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from AsiaOne

First Arrest Under New Fuel Restrictions

The Malaysian Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) executed its first arrest of a foreign motorist on April 9, marking a significant escalation in the enforcement of fuel subsidies. A Singaporean man, believed to be the owner of a Honda Civic, was detained at a petrol station in Johor at approximately 10:00 PM. According to Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, the Johor KPDN director, enforcement officers intervened after observing the individual pumping subsidised Ron95 petrol into a vehicle registered outside of Malaysia. This enforcement action serves as a definitive warning to foreign motorists who have historically circumvented local fuel restrictions.

Seizure of Property and Evidence

Following the detention, authorities took swift action to secure evidence for a formal prosecution under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. The Singapore-registered Honda Civic was seized alongside supporting documentation, including purchase receipts and CCTV footage from the petrol station. The suspect is expected to face charges for the illegal purchase of controlled goods, a move that signals a shift toward individual accountability. Prior to the April 1 regulatory change, legal penalties for such transactions primarily targeted petrol station operators rather than the motorists themselves.

The End of Automated Subsidised Fueling

A key component of the new enforcement strategy involves the total ban on using foreign debit and credit cards at self-service kiosks for Ron95 purchases. KPDN enforcement director-general Azman Adam explained that the anonymity of card transactions at the pump made it exceedingly difficult for authorities and station operators to verify vehicle registration. As of this month, all motorists using foreign payment methods are required to settle their bills at the station counter, allowing staff to perform mandatory visual inspections of vehicles before authorising the transaction.