Thai Motorists Flock to Fill Fuel Tanks in Malaysia

Car owners in Thailand's southern border region have flocked across the border to fill their fuel tanks in Malaysia, leading to a temporary shortage of supply, Thailand news agency reported yesterday.

A number of motorists, particularly in this southern border province, have opted to fill their fuel tanks - for both motorcycles and sedans - in Malaysia's northern Perlis State, where diesel and gasoline are sold cheaper then they cost in Thailand.
This has caused temporarily supply shortage at the petrol stations in the Perlis State.

Local police said there had been no problem of oil smuggling from Malaysia due to good cooperation between Thai and Malaysian authorities, the news report quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, fuel prices in such remote area of northern Chiang Rai Province have surged to more than 30 Baht per liter due to higher transport costs, while many petrol stations in the country's Northeast have closed their businesses due to business loss.