KUALA LUMPUR: The government will impose restrictions on the sale of diesel and petrol at the border, including in Sabah and Sarawak, Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday.He said such a move would be taken soon to overcome smuggling of the fuel.

The restrictions, he said, would include limiting the sale of diesel and petrol to only 20 litres for foreign vehicles in areas within 50km radius from the Malaysian border.

Vehicles with more than 20 litres fuel in their tank would also not be allowed to cross the border, he told a news conference at the Parliament lobby here yesterday.

Ismail Sabri said a directive on that effect would be issued to petrol kiosk operators at the border while a circular to inform vehicle owners on the matter would be distributed to them at the Immigration Complex.

Petrol kiosk operators who failed to abide by the regulation would face having their business licences withdrawn, while vehicles which had more than 20 litres fuel in their tanks would not be allowed to leave the country, he added.

Ismail Sabri said the move would be taken following report of an increase in fuel smuggling and also because the government did not want its oil subsidy to also be enjoyed by foreigners.

He said officers from the ministry would be stationed at the petrol kiosks to monitor the situation. — Bernama