Ministry warns petrol stations

KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has giving a stern warning to the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) to not close their petrol stations at 10pm.

Its minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said such a move by PDAM would jeopardise the country’s economy. PDAM must get approvals from the Government to close petrol stations earlier, he said during a seminar on Consumerism and Wise-Spending for Women 2007 yesterday.

“They have no right to make any decision without consultation with the Government,” he said.

He said while it was possible to close certain stations early in some places, other stations would have to operate 24 hours a day, especially those along highways where lorries transport goods at night.

“If there is a security issue, we can allow the station to close earlier but we have to see which areas. If closing a petrol station affects consumers, security has to be improved. We have negotiated with certain oil companies and dealers in the past that in some places where there is hardly any traffic, they are allowed to close earlier,” he said.

He was commenting on the decision by PDAM that the 3,200 petrol stations nationwide would open at 7am and close at 10pm, with or without the approval of the Government. Shafie also said that dealers should not pass on the credit card cost to consumers because the consumers were already paying for credit card use. However, PDAM vice-president Datuk Zulkifli Mokti said the operating hours of petrol stations depended solely on business opportunity. Pan Malaysian Lorry Owners Association president Er Sui See said closing the petrol stations at 10pm would only drive up transportation costs.

He said the move would result in longer journeys and difficulty in meeting delivery deadlines.
Federal Territory and Selangor Taxi Operators Association president Datuk Aslah Abdullah said the move would result in taxi drivers feeling a strong pinch on their income

A lot of measurmenet is needed to take into consideration for the petrol folks, but closing it down earlier means nothing at all. I would really suggest free trade of petrol will make the cue.... many will not agree but at the bottom line, subsidy method will only pinch us harder at the end of the line....

commented by Jeffayn , come and visit me at jeffayn.com ..... ...