THE Government has reaffirmed that vehicles with foreign number plates will ‘not’ be permitted to purchase subsidised RON95 petrol, as part of measures to ensure fuel subsidies are reserved strictly for eligible citizens.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said the price of RON95 will be reduced from RM2.05 to RM1.99 per litre starting next Tuesday for eligible Malaysians aged 16 and above who hold valid driving licences.
“Foreigners residing in Malaysia and using locally registered vehicles may purchase RON95, but only at market price, which will be announced at the end of this month,” he said during a press conference following the Northern Zone Engagement Session for the 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).
“However, foreign-registered vehicles from countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, or Singapore will continue to be restricted to purchasing RON97 only, in line with existing policy,” he stressed.
The government estimates the unsubsidised price of RON95 to be around RM2.60 per litre.
Controlled Rollout to Begin This Week
The new RON95 subsidy system will be implemented in stages to ensure a smooth rollout and system integrity. Beginning this Saturday, police and armed forces personnel will be the first group to benefit from the subsidised price as part of a trial phase.
Recipients of Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) and the B40 income group will follow on 28 September, with the scheme fully open to all eligible Malaysian citizens by 30 September.
Each eligible Malaysian will receive a monthly quota of 300 litres of RON95 at RM1.99 per litre.
Amir also assured the public there will be no issues regarding fuel supply.
“There is no concern over logistics or stock availability. Foreign-registered vehicles remain restricted from buying RON95 regardless of price flotation. They can only purchase RON97, which remains under a floating price mechanism,” he added.
Anti-Abuse Mechanisms in Place
To prevent exploitation and leakage of the subsidy, the Ministry of Finance has developed a monitoring system that tracks daily and monthly fuel redemptions by eligible users.
“This mechanism includes safeguards against repeated daily redemptions and will ensure that users cannot abuse the system by redeeming excessive amounts of subsidised fuel,” said Amir Hamzah, speaking at the National-Level E-Invoicing Roadshow on Monday.
The government is also aware of potential black-market activity where individuals may attempt to resell subsidised fuel to non-citizens or foreign-registered vehicles.
To tackle this, users with higher fuel needs—such as e-hailing and p-hailing drivers—may apply for an increased quota, supported by documentation from their employers.
“We will verify their usage data and validate it with the companies to ensure these individuals are genuinely performing their roles,” Amir Hamzah explained.
Fuel Stations Prepared
On the readiness of petrol stations nationwide to implement the system, the minister said preparation has been ongoing for months in collaboration with oil companies.
“We’ve been working with fuel providers since late last year. All major oil companies have confirmed they are ready,” he said, adding that minor hiccups, if any, should be expected but will not impact the government’s commitment.
“The promise stands: if you are eligible, you will get RON95 at RM1.99 per litre.” - September 23, 2025
