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MALAYSIAN authorities have imposed strict limits on fuel purchases by Thai-registered vehicles at stations near the border, as surging demand linked to regional supply fears and price disparities fuels congestion, shortages and smuggling concerns.
Under the new measures, Thai vehicles are restricted to RM35 per refuelling. The move follows a sharp increase in cross-border demand, reportedly driven by anxieties over global fuel supplies amid tensions in West Asia, according to Thai Enquirer.
In Betong, Yala, petrol stations have been overwhelmed, with long queues stretching into nearby roads. Some outlets have faced temporary shortages, displaying “diesel out” notices and сокращing operating hours from midday to early evening while awaiting fresh supplies.
Several stations have also capped purchases at 1,000 baht (RM118.07) per customer to manage demand.
The significantly lower fuel prices in Malaysia have incentivised Thai motorists to refuel across the border. Diesel is priced at about RM2.15 per litre, RON95 at RM1.99, and RON97 at RM3.85, making cross-border refuelling economically attractive.
Malaysian authorities said the restrictions are also aimed at curbing fuel smuggling into Thailand. In Kelantan, enforcement agencies have detained 46 suspects and seized 75 vehicles modified for illicit transport of fuel.
Most were Proton Wira and Proton Iswara models fitted with enlarged or additional tanks concealed in boots or beneath rear seats, used to ferry fuel to transit points before smuggling it across the border.
A total of 48 petrol stations near the Kelantan-Thai border are under close monitoring, about half of them located within a 25-kilometre radius of crossing points.
Separately, the Road Transport Department (JPJ) warned that Thai vehicles found more than two kilometres from border entry points without an International Circulation Permit (ICP) risk being seized.
The supply strain has also raised alarm in Thailand’s healthcare sector. At a hospital in Khon Buri district, officials scrambled to secure diesel to ensure uninterrupted power for critical treatment.
Hospital electrician Julaporn Ratchatok said she was tasked with sourcing sufficient diesel to fill three generators and maintain reserves in case of outages.
"Summer storms usually occur at this time and can cause power outages.
"If we are not prepared, medical staff and patients at the hospital will be affected," she said, as reported by Bangkok Post.
Julaporn added that she travelled by ambulance across the district to locate fuel supplies before a Bangchak station in Don Krud agreed to provide 460 litres of diesel to the hospital. The station had limited other customers to a maximum of 300 baht (RM33.69) per person.
"We will do whatever is necessary to obtain fuel to generate electricity at the hospital," she said.
Meanwhile, at the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security Complex (ICQS) in Kelantan, thousands of Thai nationals have crowded the border crossing as they return home for Aidilfitri.
Crowds began gathering as early as 4.30am, with vehicle queues stretching more than one kilometre towards the border entrance.
One traveller, Sakeena Rohman, 38, said the congestion was expected as many migrant workers had begun returning home earlier.
"It has become my routine to return to Thailand two or three days earlier to avoid worse congestion on the eve of Hari Raya. Thankfully, my employer granted me early leave to return home after nearly six months without going back to my hometown in Narathiwat.
"Although we have to squeeze through large crowds while waiting for the gates to open, the situation remains under control as everyone is excited to return home to celebrate Raya with their loved ones.
"Moreover, this is something we go through almost every year when returning for the festive season, as I have also been working as a cook at a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur for more than 10 years," she said.
Local motorcycle taxi operator Azhar Abdullah, 52, said the surge in travellers had boosted business, as many relied on his services to get through the congested border crossing.
"The congestion started today and is expected to continue until the morning of Hari Raya, as Thai migrants from across the country, especially those from southern Thailand, use the Rantau Panjang ICQS to return home.
"Thankfully, the situation remains manageable despite the thousands of visitors every morning, as it is tightly controlled by border security personnel," he said.
He added that operators have been working extended hours in the lead-up to Aidilfitri, while maintaining safety standards to prevent accidents.
The congestion comes as extended operating hours at border complexes in Rantau Panjang, Pengkalan Kubor and Bukit Bunga took effect on 15 March, with opening times brought forward to 6am from 7am. The move has been welcomed by both Malaysian and Thai travellers, who say it has eased cross-border journeys during the festive period. - March 18, 2026
