JOHOR BARU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is researching to identify a suitable location to expand the unsubsidised petrol station scheme in Johor.
Its minister Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said that a pilot project of the programme had already been implemented under the Border Economy programme in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis.
The implementation of the project since February has helped to save almost RM6mil in the government's fuel subsidy allocation, he added.
"This is part of the government's effort to reduce the cases of subsidised RON95 purchases by foreigners as Johor is close to Singapore.
"We are currently looking into finding the strategic location (in Johor), and once we do, we will implement this programme," he said when met by reporters after the iTTV e-Learning Online Tuition Rahmah Package launching ceremony, at White Hall Event Space, here, on Saturday (June 24).
He said this when asked to comment on the recent case of an altercation between a food delivery rider and two Singaporeans at a petrol station in Sunway Iskandar, Iskandar Puteri, for allegedly buying RON95 inside a container.
"The government is very clear in its policy that RON95 should only be sold to locals as it is one of the subsidised items in the country.
"Any petrol station owner or foreign individual who is caught violating this policy will face legal action.
"However, I was informed that based on the CCTV footage, the Singaporean in the video did not get the chance to purchase the RON95 fuel," he said, adding that the full report of the incident would be given to him on Monday (June 26).
On May 18, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was reported saying that a pilot project on unsubsidised RON95 petrol and diesel supply projects at petrol stations has been implemented under the Border Economy Programme in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry was in the final stages of increasing the number of petrol stations selling unsubsidised fuel, especially in Kelantan, Kedah, Perak, Sabah, and Sarawak, as well as Johor.
On June 24, Iskandar Puteri OCPD Asst Comm Rahmat Ariffin was reported saying that the police were looking for two Singaporean nationals involved in an argument with the food delivery rider on June 16.
More to come
