MALAYA PETROL COUPONS

Malaya Petrol Coupons 1947-1950


  The Survey Department , Federation of Malaya was established in 1924. It had a head office in Kuala Lumpur with branches in Singapore, Malacca and Penang and the Malay states of Johore, Pahang, Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Negri Sembilan.


  The Survey Department which was the government printers was in charge of designing and printing the Emergency Currency notes of 1940 ie. 10 cents and 25 cents, postage and revenue stamps, rubber coupons, war saving certificates and bonds, identity cards, share certificates, motor vehicle licences and Petrol Coupons.


  The first petrol coupons were printed in 1941 with the word 'SPECIMEN' on it. They were only samples not meant for distribution. Only in January 1947 that petrol coupons with units 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 10 were printed with validity period of there  months.


  These coupons were initially distributed to motorcycle and car owners. The motorcycle owners were given 1, 2, 3 and 4 units, whereas the 5 and 10 units were reserved for the car owners. They were being ration to them on a monthly basis.


  In December 1947, The Surveyor General for The Malayan Union and Singapore suggested to the The Commissioner of Road Transport, Federation of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur to have one colour for petrol coupons of 1, 2, 3, and 4 and a separate colour for unit of 5 and 10 gallons.


  During the 2nd quarter of 1948, it was discovered that there were some forgeries in the 10 gallon petrol coupons. The Road Transport Department, Federation of Malaysia issued a stern warning that any petrol retailer licenced in the Federation of Malaya who printed his own 'Petrol Coupons' would be prosecuted and probably suffer suspension on cancellation of his licence.


  The following year the petrol coupons were printed with special watermark paper and some had the words 'SINGAPORE' printed on them. They were for use by the motorcycle and car-owners in Singapore only.

  After every quarter the expired petrol coupons and forgeries were destroyed by cutting them into small strips in the guillotine and burning them in the public incinerator at Cheras Road, Kuala Lumpur.


 Also in 1948 the 30 and 50 gallon petrol coupons were printed and distributed to higher horse power cars and government trucks & lorries.

  The 50 gallon petrol coupons was a single piece measuring 15cm x 8 1/2cm and had the words in oval 'COMPETENT AUTHORITY PETROL OIL AND LUBRICANTS' with the validity period and chopped and signed by Road Transport Department of the various states. Only a few 50 gallon petrol coupons were printed at a time they were controlled by The Road Transport Department.


 The last known dates for petrol coupons was October - December 1950.

 The petrol coupons could also the exchanged for goods and services, and in a way, it acted as a medium of exchange.

SOURCE : LAWRENCE DE SOUZEREFERENCES: 
                                  1)      ARKIB NEGARA MALAYSIA.
                                  2)      SURVEY DEPARTMENT, FEDERATION OF MALAYA FILES &
                                           JOURNELS 1924 - 1955.
                                  3)      ROAD TRANSPORT, DEPT. FEDERATION OF MALAYA FILES.

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