A sign at a petrol station in Johor warning motorists about the ruling prohibiting Singaporeans and other foreigners from buying RON 95 petrol. -- PHOTO: SIN CHEW DAILY/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
JOHOR BARU - SINGAPORE drivers have reportedly had little problems buying petrol across the Causeway despite a new ruling which took effect yesterday banning non-Malaysians from buying RON 95, a cheaper grade of petrol that is subsidised.
Despite some initial confusion over the new ruling and complaints it was unfair to Singaporeans, the Malaysian media reported that most Singapore drivers had been buying RON 97, a higher grade of petrol which is not restricted.
According to the Bernama news agency, petrol stations have generally had little problems with the new rule. Non-Malaysian motorists had not minded when told they could not buy RON 95, which is subsidised by the government.
'It is all right, as long as we are allowed to purchase the fuel here,' said Singapore housewife Noorini Adam, 35.
Like others, she said that petrol is still cheaper in Malaysia than in Singapore despite a recent move by the Malaysian government to cut subsidies on fuel and several other essential items such as sugar.
RON 95 now costs RM1.85 (S$0.79) a litre, while RON 97, whose price is regulated by a float system, costs around RM2.10 - still cheaper than the S$1.75 or so that the cheapest grade of petrol costs in Singapore. The new ruling was implemented to ensure that only Malaysians enjoyed the subsidy on fuel.
