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The government is considering barring the use of overseas-registered credit cards at outdoor payment terminals in petrol stations as part of efforts to prevent abuse of the RON95 fuel subsidy
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the move is among several additional mechanisms being studied to tighten enforcement under the BUDI95 targeted subsidy system.
"We are seeing if this mechanism can be expanded. At the same time, monitoring and operations by plainclothes ministry officials will be carried out at known hotspots," he said during his winding-up speech on the motion of thanks for the Royal Address in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, 9 February.
Armizan also said the ministry takes allegations of threats to petrol station operators over the sale of subsidised RON95 seriously.
"Such actions are criminal offences, and those affected can lodge police reports."
The minister added that regulations barring occupants of foreign-registered vehicles from purchasing subsidised RON95 will be enforced starting April
Currently, enforcement largely places responsibility on petrol station operators who sell subsidised fuel to foreigners. However, Armizan said the government is reviewing legislative amendments to also cover individuals who attempt to illegally pump subsidised petrol.
"We are reviewing legislative amendments to cover individuals attempting to pump subsidised petrol illegally," he said.
"Under the proposed regulation, both parties — petrol station operators and owners or owners of foreign-registered vehicles — can be held accountable," Armizan had told the Dewan Rakyat in January.
The move comes amid calls for perpetrators to be held accountable, rather than placing the burden solely on petrol station operators.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Image via Bernama