Sunday June 1, 2008

Envoy: Those with Singapore PR also affected

By NELSON BENJAMIN

SINGAPORE: The ruling to ban the sale of petrol to foreign-registered vehicles within a 50km radius of the border must consider Malaysian holders of Singapore Permanent Resident (PR) status residing in Johor.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore Datuk N. Parameswaran said there were a large number of Malaysians holding Singapore PR who travelled in their vehicles between Johor and Singapore daily via the Causeway and Second Link.

“One of the terms of their Singapore PR is for them to use a Singapore-registered vehicle.

“If a blanket ruling on all Singapore-registered vehicles is enforced, this will surely hurt this group of Malaysians who live in Johor but travel daily to work in the republic,” he told The Star.

Asked whether the move would help curb petrol smuggling at the border, he said Singaporean authorities were strict when it came to smuggling.

“Singapore enforces a strict ruling that Singapore-registered vehicles leaving the country must have three-quarter full tank or face a heavy fine,” he said.

Motorcyclist Raymond Kit, 30, who holds a Singapore PR, described the move as “silly” as there were many Malaysians who owned Singapore vehicles.

“I already have to pay a hefty toll to enter Malaysia via the Second Link amounting to RM6.40 each time I ride my motorcycle back,” he said.

Kit, who has been working in Singapore for 10 years, said he visited Johor Baru at least once a week “not just to fill up 20 litres of petrol but to have a meal, shop and sightsee” with his wife and friends.

Another Malaysian who owns a Singapore-registered motorcycle and car, David Maniam, 48, suggested that Malaysians be allowed to buy petrol at the subsidised rate by showing their MyKad.