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KUCHING: The Sarawak government has issued a stern warning to retailers who are taking advantage of a recent natural disaster to raise the price of subsidized liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders.
Sarawak Utilities and Telecommunications Minister, Dato Sri Julaihi Narawi, highlighted that the shortage of cooking gas in several areas in northern Sarawak was due to logistical challenges. The refilling centre in Tanjung Kidurong, Bintulu, had to be shut down temporarily after being affected by a landslide.
He assured the public that the government is taking immediate action to restore the LPG supply. Supplies are being sent from Senari to Miri and Bintulu to stabilize the situation. “Petrosniaga is working hard to secure supplies from Senari since gas bottled in Bintulu cannot be used for LPG production at the moment,” he explained.
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Dato Sri Julaihi reminded retailers that the retail price for domestic LPG remains at RM26.60 per barrel. Any retailer found selling at a higher price will face strict enforcement. He stressed that raising prices during a crisis is unethical and places an unnecessary burden on those already facing hardship.
“I have instructed Petros to act immediately against any retailer who increases prices illegally,” he said during a visit to the Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Sejingkat Power Corporation (SPC) on Friday, accompanied by Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg.
To enhance the supply of LPG in Sarawak, Petrosniaga has significantly increased the number of LPG cylinders in circulation. A total of RM100 million has been allocated, doubling the supply to 690,000 cylinders, bringing the total to 1.8 million cylinders across Sarawak.
The subsidized LPG supply is meant for domestic use only, while the commercial sector should rely on unsubsidized LPG. The public is encouraged to report any retailers selling LPG above the set price to the authorities. – UKAS EDITION