Malaysia:Border Service Stations to Have Separate Fuel Dispensers for Foreign Cars
|
|
|
|
Tuesday, 24 June 2008 |
The Malaysian authroites have announced plans to set up separate fuel dispensers at its
border petrol stations to sell fuel to foreigners at market rates so
that only locals can benefit from subsidised petrol.
The new pumps will target Singapore and Thailand where thousands
make day trips across both borders to fill their tanks with
cheaper fuel in Malaysia.
The announcement by deputy premier Najib Razak comes less than a month
after the government raised pump prices by 41 per cent in a deeply
unpopular move aimed at reducing its subsidies bill, which would have
reached 17 billion dollars this year.
Malaysians now pay 2.70 ringgit (S$1.13) per litre of petrol, still one of the cheapest rates in the region.
'There are two benefits in using this system - in that foreigners will
pay market rates for their petrol here and Malaysians will know what
the real price of petrol is,' Mr Najib was reported as saying by state
news agency Bernama.
Domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Shahrir Samad said about
500 petrol stations within 50 kilometres of the country's northern
border with Thailand and southern border with Singapore would be
affected.
He said petrol station attendants would ensure cars with foreign licence plates filled up at the new pumps, Bernama reported.
PetrolWorld 230608
|
