JOHOR BARU, MALAYSIA: A proposed ban on the sale of subsidised fuel to Singapore-registered vehicles may have an effect on petrol stations operating near the Causeway, but operators are not worried. Ban or no ban, they think Singaporeans will still come to Johor Baru for everything, from food to entertainment.

Lenny Tan, a petrol station operator said that even without the subsidy, petrol in Malaysia was still cheaper than in Singapore.

"It is only fair that they pay for things purchased without a subsidy. In Singapore, they follow everything by the book and we abide by their rules. We do not enjoy any privileges there, so it's only fair that they don't in our country," Tan, 43, said.

Since the ban was reported in the republic's newspapers, Tan said she did not see a rush among foreign-registered vehicles to fill up.

Another operator who declined to be named, however, is worried that she will have to cease operation if the ban takes effect.

The woman, who is in her 30s, said almost 90 per cent of her clients were Singaporeans.

"My station is the last stop before the Causeway. All vehicles entering Singapore that need to refill will stop here for the last fill-up.

"Sometimes when there are massive jams, they will park their vehicles and purchase snacks at our store."

She was against the ban, but thought it would not take effect immediately.

The woman also said that her station had not seen a sudden hike in sales, even after the ban was made public in Singapore media.

However, she said that she would be taking extra precaution by getting all her staff to work over the weekend, as the ban is expected to take effect this Sunday.

A third operator said with petrol becoming car owners' most sought-after commodity, "ban or no ban, subsidised or not, car owners need petrol".

"Of course, when you pay more, you will complain, but then you will just accept it because you need it, unless there is another alternative."

He noticed that there was a slight increase in the number of Singapore-registered vehicles pumping fuel between 12am and 3am on Tuesday night.

A Singaporean biker, Ramzly Hossin, 26, believed many Singaporeans would complain about the ban and many Johoreans, especially those who rely on Singaporeans for income, would make a fuss.

"But it is not just the petrol that draws the Singaporeans to Johor Baru, it is the food.

"It tastes better, it smells better and it looks better. Many of us brave the jams at the Causeway because we need to de-stress.

"Living in Singapore is not easy. You need to work very hard, but we need to play hard, and Johor Baru is our playground," he said.