No More Than 20 liters Of Fuel For Foreign Vehicles In Border Towns

I wonder how many times our minister must fail before they learn? According to the news portal Malaysia-instinct, a directive to be issued soon to limit foreign-registered vehicles to pump maximum 20 liters of fuel when travelling within 50km radius from the border.

Enforcement authorities at the checkpoints were also directed to ensure such vehicles leave the country with no more than 20 liters of fuel in each tank, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the Domestic, Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Minister.

How many times that our proposal to curb fuel smuggling fail? In the past, there were propasals such as impose levy on foreign vehicle, can not pump petrol within 50KM radius of the border town, foreign vehicles pay unsubsidised petrol rate etc. But non of these proposal even see the day light. I'm more frustrating with the supposedly levy collection machines installed at the JB check points but never used. This is how our government waste money.

The latest "20 litre" proposal even more amusing. The first question I have is how to measure? Car of different made has different fuel tank capacity. Furthermore, Thailand has many different models that we don't have in M'sia. Furthermore, if they want to smuggle petrol, is this the best way to smuggle by pumping petrol into a 60 litre tank ? I think the smugglers are smarter than our ministers.

My second question is how to prove that I have driven beyond 50KM radius from the border town? Are we going to fault a Singapore car who pump full tank at Kulai and used up less than a quarter when arriving in JB?

My third question is, does it make absolute economic sense? Our ministers are really lacking in economic sense. Would this policy encourage or discourage more tourists? especially those from Singapore. Who will benefit more when the Singaporeans come to JB and ultimately go home with more than 20 litre of "subsidiesed petrol?

What is JB without Singaporean tourist? The answer is "nothing", JB is nothing without the big spender Singaporeans.

Hence, I hope Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri will prove me wrong with facts and figures when he release the directive in near future.