KUALA LUMPUR - Enforcement of the ban on the sale and purchase of RON95 petrol for foreign-registered vehicles will begin on April 1, said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

He said the move strengthens existing laws, which previously only penalised petrol station operators.

“Effective April 1, 2026, this offence will also include drivers or owners of foreign-registered vehicles,” he said in a post on his Facebook page here last Thursday.

Armizan said the enforcement follows a policy he presented in Parliament on January 29.

He said enforcement efforts will be strengthened through OPS Tiris 4.0 (Integrated) to ensure compliance and curb fuel smuggling, especially in border areas amid tensions in the Middle East.

“I am reminding all parties, whether petrol station operators or foreign motor vehicle consumers, to comply with this ban,” he said.

Armizan said the ministry will take firm action against anyone involved in fuel subsidy abuse or smuggling.

He also urged the public to report suspicious activities as part of the KITA GEMPUR initiative to protect public interests and reduce subsidy leakages.

Earlier, Armizan chaired a meeting with the ministry’s enforcement division to finalise preparations for the expanded ban.

In a related development, he said the government has assured that supplies of essential goods remain sufficient despite rising logistics and packaging costs due to the Middle East conflict.

He said this was achieved through closer cooperation between the government and the retail sector, including engagement with the Malaysia Retail Association (MRA).

“The main agenda discussed was the issues arising from the Middle East conflict, especially the implications for security of supply and price stability.

“Through strengthening cooperation between the government and the Industry, the supply of imported basic necessities is sufficient despite facing several issues, especially increasing logistics costs and packaging materials," Amizan said.