A Malaysian man put gas in his motorcycle at a gas station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Domestic Trade Minister Shafie Apdal said the maximum punishment ought to be meted out to diesel smugglers and hoarders because their activities were hurting the economy, adding that it was obvious that the current threat of a maximum fine of $6,500 was no deterrent.

Malaysia's transport industry came to a standstill in late April because of a nationwide diesel crisis that had been building up over the last two months, when the government began rationing it to counter global fuel price hikes.

This sparked hoarding and a thriving black market. Because diesel costs less than half in neighboring Thailand, a thriving smuggling industry has sprung up in border states.

The Japan Times Weekly: May 14, 2005
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