M’sian Man in Batik Shirt Praised After Politely Stopping S’porean Car From Using RON95

A 53-second video from Johor Bahru has been making waves online after a man in a batik shirt calmly confronted a Singaporean driver for pumping subsidised RON95 petrol — which is strictly reserved for Malaysia-registered vehicles.

m’sian man in batik shirt praised after politely stopping s’porean car from using ron95 Photo via TikTok (@_izzulislam)

In the clip, the man approaches the Singapore-registered car and politely reminds the driver of the rule. What stood out to many viewers was his tone: calm, respectful, yet firm. There was no shouting or provocation, just a straightforward reminder.

Netizens quickly praised his approach. One Facebook user wrote, “I like how he handled it — polite but firm.” Another commented, “If more people were brave like him, foreigners wouldn’t misuse our subsidies so easily.” On X, he was even hailed as a wira (hero).

The incident reportedly took place on 26 August.

While many applauded the man’s composure, others shifted the focus to enforcement. Some pointed out that petrol station operators face a RM10,000 fine if they allow foreign vehicles to fill up with RON95. Similarly, foreign drivers risk the same penalty if caught leaving Malaysia with subsidised fuel in their tanks.

Not everyone kept their reactions serious. Some netizens mocked the situation with comments like, “RON97 is just 99 cents, [expletive],” while others shared tips. On Reddit, one user suggested, “For anyone who encounters this, just press the Stop button at the petrol kiosk and inform the counter.”

Why foreigners cannot pump RON95

RON95 is heavily subsidised by the Malaysian government to help ease the burden of local citizens. Allowing foreign vehicles to use it would not only cost taxpayers more but also encourage abuse of the subsidy system. That’s why it is strictly off-limits to non-Malaysians.

@_izzulislam Aku cukup pantang jenis macam ni. kau masuk negara orang, ikut lah peraturan. simple je.. #singaporean ♬ QKThr - Aphex Twin

What can you do?

If you see a foreign vehicle pumping RON95, you can:
Inform the petrol station staff immediately.
Collect details (car plate, time, station name) if safe to do so.
Lodge a report with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) via their hotline 1-800-886-800 or the Ez ADU KPDN mobile app.

PSA: Subsidised fuel is meant for Malaysians. Staying alert and reporting misuse helps ensure that government subsidies go to the people who need them most.