Malaysians vexed as Singaporeans eye cheap petrol, drive dangerously after borders reopen
- Just seven days after the land crossings reopened, Malaysians are pointing a finger at opportunistic Singaporeans buying subsidised fuel meant only for citizens, with ex-PM Najib Razak wading in on the issue
- Others are using the situation as fodder for fresh jibes against their neighbours, telling Singaporeans worried about Malaysian crime to avoid visiting the city of Johor Bahru altogether
As Malaysians and Singaporeans are reconnected after two years, the reopened land crossings have not just reunited loved ones and reinvigorated cross-border tourism, but also fuelled a fresh wave of bickering between the two neighbours, which share a sibling-like rivalry.
Due to the strong Singapore dollar, nearby Johor Bahru has long been a favourite day trip destination for many Singaporeans, who make up a crucial part of the Malaysian city’s retail and F&B sectors.
But residents of Johor Bahru, which is a half-hour drive from Singapore, say they have often had to put up with the idiosyncrasies of their southern neighbours, including behaviour they say is opportunistic, or even obnoxious.
These complaints resurfaced on April 1 when the land crossings reopened, after which Malaysians said Singaporean motorists were once again seizing the chance to fill up their petrol tanks with cheaper petrol.
Singapore bars local vehicles from entering Malaysia with less than three-quarters of a full tank, but some motorists ignore the rule – and risk a fine – by crossing the Causeway and Second Link with far less than the permitted level.
In Johor Bahru, some Singaporeans have also been seen buying RON-95 petrol – which is subsidised by the Malaysian state and meant to be sold only to residents.
RON-95, which is identified by its bright yellow nozzles at petrol kiosks, currently costs about S$3.00 (9.30 ringgit) per litre in Singapore compared to 2.05 ringgit (66 Singapore cents) per litre in Malaysia.