Singaporean Man Allegedly Changed Vehicle Number Plates To Fuel RON95
In a Facebook posting in the group Malaysia-Singapore Border Crossers(MSBC) 马新过境者, a user alleged that a Singaporean man fuelled petrol with a Malaysian vehicle number plate and switched it to a Singaporean number plate after the deed was done.
In the posting, the users wrote,
“I saw that and questioned him, he got panic and drove the car out really fast. I made police report based on his car registration number. You made a wrong move bro.. Rest in peace bro”
The post has been received attention locally and in Singapore with one report noting that if true, the crime of changing license plates carries a fine of between RM5,000 and RM20,000 or jailed for up to five years, or both.
Not surprisingly a Singaporean driver was actually fined in 2019 for this very offence to which the man was fined RM8,000. The act was captured by another Singaporean, ironically.
Even though the original poster of the viral photo said they had reported the vehicle to the police, Assistant Commissioner Rahim, the South Johor Bahru District Police Chief, said the police have not received any reports regarding the incident.
In response to the incident, Johor State Road Transport Department Director Azman Zainal also noted that authorities may invoke Section 108(3)(f) of the Road Transport Act 1987 to take action against foreign vehicle owners unlawfully using Malaysian license plates.
“Under this section, offenders may face a fine ranging from RM5,000 to RM20,000 (S$1,500 to S$6,000), up to five years in jail, or both, if convicted,” he explained.
Mr Azman clarified that even without formal complaints about foreign drivers switching license plates, enforcement officers will continue surveillance to identify offenders.
He emphasised that Malaysian law requires vehicles to display clear license plates at both the front and back, and using a fake plate is illegal.
He also urged Singaporean drivers to abide by Malaysian traffic laws.
