Police in Johor have identified the owner of a Singapore-registered vehicle involved in a viral incident showing the refuelling of subsidised RON95 petrol, and have summoned him to assist in investigations.
Kulai district police chief Tan Seng Lee said the vehicle owner, who holds Singapore permanent resident status, was traced shortly after the video gained widespread attention online.
The individual has been instructed to report to the Traffic Department at Kulai police headquarters to facilitate further investigation into the incident.
The case is being investigated under Section 108(3)(e) of the Road Transport Act 1987, which addresses offences involving altered or obscured vehicle registration numbers.
According to Tan, police take a serious view of attempts to hide or modify number plates, as such actions can impede enforcement and accountability.
“Vehicle registration plates must remain clearly visible at all times. Any attempt to conceal or alter them is an offence under the law,” he said.
The incident occurred in Kulai and came to light after a video circulated online showing two individuals refuelling RON95 petrol into a Singapore-registered car.
Part of the vehicle’s number plate appeared to be deliberately covered, prompting public criticism and calls for enforcement action.
In the video, the individuals were heard asserting that they were Malaysians before leaving the petrol station.
Malaysian regulations clearly state that subsidised RON95 petrol is reserved exclusively for Malaysian-registered vehicles.
Foreign-registered vehicles, including those from Singapore, have been restricted to purchasing RON97 or higher-grade fuel since 2010.
Authorities say the restriction is essential to prevent abuse of subsidies and ensure that public funds benefit intended recipients.
Tan said investigations will focus on verifying the identity of those involved and determining whether additional offences may have been committed.
He added that the case highlights the importance of public vigilance, but reminded the public to allow authorities to handle enforcement matters.