JOHOR BARU: Singaporeans should be allowed to buy petrol here at unsubsidised rates as a ban on its sale will affect the economy, an MCA leader said yesterday.

MCA Youth secretary-general Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong said petrol stations could install pumps to handle the sale of unsubsidised petrol to foreigners.

"MCA Youth feels that petrol in Johor should still be sold to foreign cars but at the market rate. That will be a win-win situation, as traders fear a drop in income following the ban.

"I have received many calls from people who want the government to impose rules which are practical for the state."

Wee, who is deputy education minister, said Malaysians driving Singapore-registered cars should also be exempted from the ban.

"There are many Malaysians who are obliged to drive Singapore-registered vehicles because they work across the Causeway."

Under Singapore laws, foreigners with permanent residence status are required to use Singapore-registered vehicles.

"They are after all, spending money in their own country when they buy petrol here.

"The government should have a second look at the ban," he said after closing the 50th national level St John Ambulance First Aid and Nursing Competition here.

Twelve Johor Baru-based Chinese associations have spoken out against the decision to stop the sale of petrol to foreigners.

Hokkien Association chairman Lim Ik Kim said the ban would affect about 50,000 Malaysians working in Singapore.

"Our businessmen members have complained of the losses they expect to incur from the anticipated drop in the number of Singaporean customers."

Hainan Johor Baru Association representative Teo Ah Khang said the ban would affect those in the restaurant, supermarket and tourism businesses.

"Singaporeans contribute to our economy because they eat, shop and spend their holidays here."

In Bukit Kayu Hitam, regular Thai visitors said they did not mind paying the market rate for petrol.

Many of them said the government should provide special pumps at petrol stations to cater for non-Malaysians.

A regular Thai visitor, Panyanuch Ratakhunanon, 49, said she was forced to turn back to Danok across the border to fill up her tank when petrol stations here refused to sell petrol to her.

"I was unaware of the ban. I understand the reasons and I hope the Malaysian government will consider setting up special pumps for us," she said at a station in Nepoh, about 20km from Bukit Kayu Hitam.

A Thai tourist guide, who declined to be named, said he did not know whether his Thai-registered tour bus would be allowed to buy petrol in Penang.

"If provisions are not made for foreigners, my company may stop bringing Europeans and Thais to Malaysia," he said.

A petrol operator in Changlun, Fazilah Md Nor, 29, said most Thais were aware of the ban.

"Our daily sales are affected but we respect the government's decision. However, I hope the government will consider allowing Thais to buy petrol at the market rate," she said.

The price of petrol in Thailand is RM3.90 per litre while diesel is RM3.50 per litre.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department enforcement division (Kubang Pasu office) head Zulkifli Mahtar said he was satisfied that 175 petrol stations within a 50km radius of the border in Kedah had observed the ban.

He said many Thai vehicles turned back to Danok when they realised the ban was in force.

"Everything went smoothly and we will continue to send our officers to conduct checks."

Zulkifli said only Thai vehicles with special permits issued by the Road Transport Department could buy fuel at Malaysian prices.

He said the permits were usually for commercial vehicles required to travel more than two kilometres beyond the border checkpoints.