Farik Zolkepli
The Star
Singapore-registered vehicles are not exempted from the 20-litre restriction on the purchase of petrol within 50km of the border.
Johor Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism department director Che Halim Abd Rahman said he was given a directive by the ministry that the ruling was in effect, a day after confirming Singaporeans were exempted.
On Wednesday, the department had announced that Singapore-registered vehicles were exempted from the ruling.
“A decision by the ministry confirms that the ruling is being imposed on foreign-registered cars, including Singaporean vehicles.
“The ministry’s mobile enforcement unit will monitor petrol stations to ensure the ruling is followed,” he told The Star yesterday.
However, Che Halim clarified that Singapore-registered vehicles would not be subjected to checks at the Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complex and Second Link.
Meanwhile, Johor Baru MP Datuk Shahrir Samad said the ministry’s decision was unfortunate.
“It is very confusing because one day, they decided not to impose the ruling but the next day they decided otherwise,” he said.
Shahrir said the ruling would only lead to unnecessary utilisation of ministry personnel.
“They will have to work beyond office hours. It will be very expensive for the Government to fund their deployment,” he added.
Johor Baru MCA Public Complaints Bureau deputy chief Michael Tay said the flip-flop on the ruling had confused the people, especially Singaporeans.
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/12/21/nation/5343795&sec=nation