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A Singaporean man has become the first to be arrested in Johor after a new regulation banning foreign-registered cars from pumping subsidised Ron95 fuel<\/a> came into effect in Malaysia on April 1.<\/p>\n The Singaporean, who’s in his 50s, was detained during an enforcement operation at a petrol station on April 9 at about 10pm, said Johor Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo.<\/p>\n “Observations found that a Singapore-registered vehicle was refuelling Ron95 petrol into its tank,” she was quoted as saying in Malaysian publications.<\/p>\n “Acting on the information and observation, enforcement officers detained the driver from continuing to refuel Ron95 petrol.”<\/p>\n Further investigation led to the Singapore-registered vehicle being seized, alongside CCTV footage, receipts of purchases and other documents.<\/p>\n She added: “The suspect, a man believed to be the driver and owner of a Honda Civic, was also detained to assist investigations.”<\/p>\n He will be charged under Malaysia’s Control of Supplies Act 1961 for the offence of purchasing controlled goods \u2014 the Ron95 fuel using a foreign-registered car, in this case.<\/p>\n [[nid:729196]]<\/p>\n In January, Malaysian authorities announced that new regulations that ban foreign-registered cars from purchasing Ron95 petrol would kick in on April 1.<\/p>\n Under the new law, drivers of foreign-registered vehicles who buy the subsidised petrol will also be penalised. Previously, only petrol station operators faced penalties for selling Ron95 petrol for foreign-registered vehicles.<\/p>\n The use of foreign debit and credit cards to purchase Ron95 fuel at self-service kiosks has also been banned starting April 1.<\/a><\/p>\n Using such cards made it difficult for petrol stations and authorities to prevent illegal purchases of Ron95, KPDN enforcement director-general Azman Adam explained.<\/p>\n Foreign credit and debit card users will now have to make payments at the counter instead, he added.<\/p>\n [[nid:732709]]<\/p>\n drimac@asiaone.com<\/p>\n<\/div>\n