I refer to the Malaysiakini report June 9 ban stays on fuel sale to S'pore cars .

Dear Datuk Sharir Abdul Samad,

You have stated that petrol subsidies should be enjoyed by citizens ( rakyat Malaysia) and not foreigners. Yet it was reported you said:

'As for Malaysians who own Singapore-registered cars, he (Datuk Shahrir) said those who earn Singapore dollars and buy Singapore-registered vehicles should be able to afford fuel at the market price.'

This begs the following questions:

1. Are foreigners who drive Malaysian-registered cars more entitled to subsidised petrol than Malaysians who own Singapore-registered cars?

2. It was reported that foreign-registered motorcycles will be exempt from the petrol sale ban. Are foreigners riding foreign-registered motorcycles more entitled to subsidised petrol than Malaysians who own Singapore-registered cars?

3. Are Malaysians who own Singapore-registered cars discriminated against because they 'should be able to afford fuel at the market price.' ? Is ‘ability-to-afford’ the criteria to qualify for subsidised fuel or is it citizenship?

Here are some truths about Malaysians who own Singapore-registered cars.

1. They are not all rich or well-off. If they were high-earners, it is likely they would live in Singapore. The reason they do not is because living costs there (eg, housing, food, schooling, medical services) are very high. Therefore, they commute even though this usually means a two-hour jam in the morning and the same on the return.

2. They have no choice but to own Singapore-registered cars. Under Singapore law, permanent residents or employment-pass holders cannot drive a Malaysian-registered car. If given a choice, no Malaysian in his right mind would buy a Singapore car as it comes with higher road tax and insurance.

3. They contribute greatly to Johor's economy. Even though they work in Singapore, their consumption is in JB. It is estimated that each Singaporean day-tripper spends an average RM200 ringgit. How much more for Malaysians working in Singapore when you consider that they will likely buy a home in JB?

Here is a proposal for a win-win solution. Petrol kiosks very close to the causeway and the second link will be the most affected. Business may dip 70-80%. Many Malaysians (owners and workers) will suffer.

I propose that Malaysians owning Singapore-registered cars be allowed to fill up at these stations at a price which is the same for other Malaysians. To identify them, they can show their MyKad to your enforcement officers of whom I am sure there will be many at these close-to-the-border petrol stations. In this way, two groups of Malaysians, the petrol station vendors and Malaysian owners of Singapore-registered cars, both benefit.

Deputy Pime Minister Najib Razak had said, ‘We are collecting the data, especially according to nationality. We want to ensure there are no double charges, especially for Malaysians who own Singapore-registered vehicles’. This was reported in the media too.

Malaysian High Commissioner to Singapore N Parameswaran has also said that any new ruling on the petrol ban should consider the group of Malaysians who live in Johor but travel daily to work in the republic. I believe that the statements of these two gentlemen are in support of Malaysians who commute to Singapore in Singapore-registered cars.

I urge you Datuk Sharir to consider as they have done.