S'pore car with doctored plate pumps RON95 petrol: Shin Min reporters confront couple in Yishun, they deny involvement

A Singapore-registered car was seen in Malaysia with its licence plate taped up and being refuelled with subsidised RON95 petrol meant only for Malaysia-registered vehicles.

The incident, caught on camera, caused widespread opprobrium in Malaysia.

The same vehicle was subsequently spotted parked at Block 233 Yishun Street 21.

The vehicle was apparently spotted by members of the public.

A photo of the parked Volkswagen Jetta and its exact location was shared on social media.

Shin Min reporters in action

In a bid to find out more, Shin Min Daily News reported that its reporters staked out the car park on Jan. 4 to try and speak to the couple involved.

According to Shin Min, a man and a woman wearing masks were seen on the ground floor at around 4 pm.

When the reporters approached them, the couple denied being the people involved and then hurriedly got into another waiting car and left.

When reporters revisited the car park on Jan. 5, they found that the car had been moved.

It was parked at another part of Yishun instead.

A construction worker told Shin Min that he did not know the owner of the vehicle, but had noticed the car parked at various locations.

He apparently noticed the car because it was part of the trending news for the last few days.

Shin Min also reported that members of the public were seen taking pictures with the car that day.

What happened

A Singapore-registered vehicle, which had its licence plate partially covered up with black tape, was seen being refuelled with Malaysia's RON95 petrol meant only for Malaysians.

The incident took place on Jan. 2 at about 10:36pm.

The licence plate's first and last letters were taped up, apparently to mimic the look of a Malaysian licence plate.

The driver of the car was subsequently confronted and asked if he was Singaporean.

He replied that he was "Malaysian".

He said: "Confirm, confirm, 100 per cent, boss."

However, the person who confronted the driver of the Singapore car threatened to call the Malaysian police.

A woman from the Singapore car then tried to intervene.

She then got on the Singapore car, which had driven off and was waiting for her to board.

Owner of Singapore car a PR

The owner of the Singapore-registered car holds Singapore permanent resident (PR) status, district police chief Assistant Commissioner Tan Seng Lee said.

The police have successfully traced the individual, who is currently in Singapore, and he has to report to the Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Division at the Kulai District Police Headquarters to assist with the investigation, it was added.

The case is being investigated under the Road Transport Act 1987

Offenders may face a fine of between RM5,000 (S$1,583) and RM20,000 (S$6,333), or a jail term of between one and five years, or both, it was reported.

Top photo via Shin Min Daily News