SINGAPORE, June 23 — Two Singaporean men have been criticised by both Malaysians and Singaporeans online after an angry clash at a Johor Baru petrol station, where they were filmed filling a jerrycan with fuel.
The exact nature of the dispute is not clear but one type of heavily subsidised fuel on sale in Malaysia, Ron95, may not be used in foreign-registered vehicles. Ron95 is much cheaper than other fuel.
A video has been making the rounds on social media showing the two men being confronted by an angry Grabfood delivery rider. The clip was recorded and shared by the delivery rider on his personal TikTok account “matkibot”.
In the video, two auxiliary police officers can be seen trying to calm the situation as the two parties continue to aggressively taunt and threaten each other. It is not clear who called the officers to the scene.
Malaysian news reports said that the two men were Singaporean.
A Malaysian police statement posted on Facebook said that the car was Singapore-registered. The police there also reportedly said that the men intended to use the fuel for go-karts.
The delivery rider can be heard repeatedly demanding that the officers arrest the two Singaporeans. He also claims that the men had summoned him to a fight.
At one point, one of the Singaporean men is seen holding a stick-like object, believed to be a steering wheel lock, while shouting inaudibly at the delivery rider.
This prompts the rider to say: “I’ll report you. You took (that thing) and wanted to hit me with it.” It is unclear from the video if the rider was referring to the object in the man’s hand.
Moments later, the same man approaches the rider and points a finger at his face, demanding that he deletes the video that he is recording.
As an officer asks the rider for his identification card, the other Singaporean man tries to grab his phone.
One of the Singaporean men can later be heard explaining to an officer: “We (are not) wrong. We (asked the) petrol kiosk (employee), he said ‘okay’. Then he (the rider) came here and (started to scold us).”
The footage ends with one of the officers speaking separately to the Singaporean man some distance away.
The TikTok post reportedly amassed more than a million views and 51,000 likes before it was later deleted by “matkibot”. However, the clip has been reposted and shared on numerous other social media platforms.
Johor police release statement
After the incident going viral, the Iskandar Puteri Regional Police released a media statement on its Facebook page on Wednesday.
It stated that the argument took place at around 8.35pm on June 16 at a Caltex petrol station at Sunway Box in Johor.
The statement also said that a police report on the incident had been made.
“A misunderstanding happened between the two parties. However, the argument was settled successfully by Sunway auxiliary police who were there at the scene,” it read.
Rahmat Ariffin, Assistant Commissioner of Iskandar Puteri Regional Police, was quoted by Malaysian media as saying in a separate statement: “Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the foreigners were intending to use the petrol for go-kart activities.”
Malaysian Facebook users flocked to the comments section to voice their dissatisfaction, with many accusing the authorities of being “weak” and demanding further action.
Some accused the police of being lenient towards foreigners.
One questioned: “Why is there no action taken against foreigners who steal our oil? Is it meant to be this way?”
Singaporeans online were also quick to weigh in on the incident. Some felt ashamed by the alleged actions of their countrymen, while others said that the two men involved did nothing wrong.
One viewer of the video on SG Road Vigilante’s social media pages said: “We should have a nationwide discussion on the meaning of shame... I apologise to the people of Malaysia unreservedly.”
A follower of the Sgfollowsall social media pages wrote: “You both make Singaporeans look bad you know!... Don’t be so cheapskate. Then, (you) want to act (like a) gangster. What is this?”
However, one person argued: “Filling up petrol... in a jerrycan in Malaysia for contingency purposes is okay. Moreover, he had sought permission from the counter staff. What the Grab (rider) is doing is merely being nosy.”
The purchase of Ron95 for all foreign-registered vehicles has been banned by Malaysia since 2010. The authorities there announced a stepping up of the enforcement of the law when borders reopened in 2022.
In July last year, Malaysia has said that small firms, organisations as well as individuals wanting to buy petrol and diesel from petrol stations for personal purposes using drums or any suitable containers in quantities exceeding 20 litres must apply for a special permit. The special permit was not needed for purchases of under 20 litres, including for emergency cases.
The capacity of a standard-size jerrycan is 20 litres.
The Singapore Customs’ website states that “more than 10 litres of motor fuel in a spare container of a motor vehicle” is a dutiable good and has to be declared upon arrival into Singapore. — TODAY
