ALOR SETAR — A local man maintained his innocence at the Sessions Court here today after being charged with utilizing identity card (MyKad) numbers belonging to other individuals to buy subsidized petrol.
The accused pleaded not guilty immediately after the charges were read aloud to him, marking one of the latest legal battles surrounding the enforcement of Malaysia’s targeted fuel subsidy scheme.
According to the prosecution, the defendant allegedly used the MyKad numbers of unsuspecting individuals to bypass purchase limits and eligibility checks at a petrol station in Kedah. This system was designed to ensure that government-subsidized fuel is only dispensed to qualified citizens.
The targeted petrol subsidy framework relies heavily on MyKad verification at the pump. Authorities have recently ramped up monitoring and enforcement operations to curb the unauthorized use of identification documents, which leads to significant subsidy leakages.
Offenses involving the illegal procurement or diversion of controlled and subsidized goods are highly regulated in Malaysia. If convicted under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 or related provisions under the Penal Code for cheating by personation, the offender faces hefty financial penalties, imprisonment, or both.
During the proceedings, the prosecution requested the court to set a significant bail amount to guarantee the accused’s appearance in future court dates. The defense team argued for a reduced bail sum, pointing to the defendant’s cooperative nature and financial status.
The court granted bail with one local surety and ordered the defendant to comply with additional conditions, including reporting to the nearest police station. The case has been set for mention on a future date to facilitate the exchange of pre-trial documents.
