Drivers of foreign-registered vehicles who purchase RON95 petrol in Malaysia will face enforcement action starting 1 April 2026.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) confirmed the enforcement date following a decision first presented in Parliament on 29 January. Foreign-registered vehicles are barred from purchasing RON95 at any price and must use RON97 instead.

What Has Changed

Under Regulation 12A of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974, petrol station operators already commit an offence by selling RON95 to a foreign-registered vehicle. From 1 April, the law extends that liability to the driver or owner of the vehicle as well, meaning both parties now risk enforcement action.

Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali confirmed that authorities will carry out enforcement under Ops Tiris 4.0 (Integrated), focusing on border areas where subsidised fuel diversion is more likely to occur. He warned that authorities will take strict action against individuals, syndicates, and operators found to be in violation.

Why This Is Happening Now

The government has been tightening fuel subsidy controls across several fronts, with leakages and misuse remaining a persistent concern for public finances.

Ongoing tensions in the Middle East have added urgency to that effort by raising the risk of cross-border fuel diversion. The enforcement expansion sits alongside other recent tightening measures, including stricter rules on purchasing fuel into containers, as part of the broader Ops Tiris 4.0 framework.

What It Means At The Pump

For Malaysian drivers, nothing changes at the pump in terms of this enforcement. RON95 remains available at RM1.99 per litre under the BUDI95 programme, though the monthly quota under the scheme was recently reduced from 300 litres to 200 litres.

For those driving into Malaysia on a foreign plate, the shift is significant. Purchasing RON95 from 1 April carries direct legal risk, and petrol station operators who allow it also commit an offence.

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Andrew Cheng

Andrew writes about personal finance and consumer behaviour, drawing on over a decade in digital media and editorial. He believes every financial topic has a clearer way to be explained, and won’t stop until he finds it. When he’s not in front of a camera or editing copy, he’s probably deep in a tech rabbit hole he told himself would only take five minutes.

• TAGS:
• Petrol
• Petrol Subsidy
• RON95
• RON95 Fuel Subsidy
• Subsidy
• Transport

About THE AUTHOR

Andrew Cheng

Andrew Cheng

Andrew writes about personal finance and consumer behaviour, drawing on over a decade in digital media and editorial. He believes every financial topic has a clearer way to be explained, and won't stop until he finds it. When he's not in front of a camera or editing copy, he's probably deep in a tech rabbit hole he told himself would only take five minutes.

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