Malaysia to Restrict RON 95 Fuel Purchases Starting Next Week

KUALA LUMPUR, KOMPAS.com - The Malaysian government will begin restricting the use of foreign credit and debit cards for RON 95 fuel purchases at public fuel stations starting next week. The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living stated that the policy will be implemented gradually across all fuel stations, with a system that automatically filters transactions using foreign cards at dispensers starting from 1 April 2026. The Director General of Enforcement at the ministry, Datuk Azman Adam, said that several oil companies are ready to implement the new mechanism. “After 1 April, the system will automatically filter transactions,” Azman said, quoted from the Straits Times on Saturday night (28/3/2026). According to Azman, this policy aims to facilitate monitoring by fuel station operators and relevant authorities, while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations. “This step is intended to facilitate monitoring by fuel station operators and law enforcement authorities, while ensuring compliance with applicable regulations,” he explained. Additionally, this measure is expected to strengthen oversight and prevent potential misuse of RON 95 fuel. “This approach will also strengthen rule enforcement and prevent potential misuse of RON 95,” he added. Global oil prices have risen despite US President Donald Trump shifting to a negotiation track with Iran, which is seen as insufficient to ease market concerns. Quoted from CNBC on Saturday (28/3/2026), the price of US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude rose 5.46 percent to $99.64 per barrel. Meanwhile, the global benchmark Brent crude strengthened 4.22 percent to $112.57 per barrel.