Malaysia to curb fuel sales to foreigners

Malaysia will temporarily curb petrol and diesel sales to foreign motorists to prevent abuse of subsidies, and the ban will be lifted once prices are gradually set at market level, the domestic trade minister said.

The government is planning a new fuel subsidy mechanism that will eventually allow petrol and diesel to be sold in the country at market prices, Shahrir Samad told reporters at parliament building yesterday.

He said a committee, led by the finance ministry, is studying various proposals to ease off the subsidy on the country's fuel, but did not give a timeframe for implementation.