25 Complaints Over RON95 In Perak. But How Can Drivers Tell If Fuel Is Bad?

Perak's Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) received 25 complaints involving suspected RON95 petrol contamination in October 2026, with water in fuel storage tanks among the possible causes.

But if your car suddenly starts jerking, losing power or struggling to start after refuelling, how can you tell whether the petrol is responsible?

How Can You Tell If Petrol Might Be Contaminated?

Drivers generally cannot identify contaminated petrol simply by looking at the fuel pump. Instead, possible warning signs may appear through changes in engine performance.

According to AAA's automotive guidance on bad fuel, symptoms worth watching include:

What Happened In Perak?

According to Bernama's 1 November report, Perak KPDN director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail confirmed that complaints came from Kinta, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Parit Buntar and Manjung.

All 25 complaints involved RON95, with no complaints concerning RON97 or diesel recorded during the period. KPDN collected fuel samples for analysis by the Department of Chemistry Malaysia.

Earlier preliminary inspections on 6 October found no signs of water contamination in tanks examined at six petrol stations. However, those checks were not conclusive.

The 25 complaints therefore remain allegations of possible contamination, not 25 laboratory-confirmed cases.

What Should You Do If Your Car Acts Up After Refuelling?

If your vehicle starts behaving unusually after filling up, take these three steps:

Do not discard your petrol receipt. It may help establish where and when you refuelled if you later need to file a complaint or support a compensation claim.

Where Can You Report Bad Petrol And Claim Compensation?

Motorists who suspect a fuel-quality problem can lodge a complaint through KPDN's official e-Aduan portal, attaching receipts, workshop findings and other supporting evidence.

The Petroleum Dealers' Association of Malaysia (PDAM) has also urged motorists to report suspected incidents to KPDN and the relevant oil companies rather than relying solely on social media allegations.

Compensation is not automatic. Any claim must satisfy the applicable requirements, and evidence connecting the fuel purchase to the alleged damage will be important.

What Happens Next In Perak?

KPDN's next steps will depend on the Department of Chemistry Malaysia's laboratory findings. Until those results are available, the suspected cause of the reported fuel problems remains unconfirmed.

For motorists, the takeaway is simple: watch for unusual engine behaviour, get a proper diagnosis and keep your refuelling records.