KAPIT: Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) Deputy Minister, Chong Chieng Jen, was here yesterday morning on a fact-finding visit.
Specifically he was looking into the shortage of fuel here as was highlighted by local newspapers a few days ago. Earlier on he was downriver in Song for a similar purpose.
This was Chong’s first official visit here since he became MDTCC deputy minister. He met the ministry’s local staff and visited two fuel stations supplying Ron 95 and diesel to the whole of Kapit and Bukit Mabong districts all the way up to Long Unai some ten hours from here near the Sarawak-Kalimantan border.
Upon his arrival, Chong checked on a petrol station which was selling unbranded fuel and then he went to Petronas Petrol Station. The fuel stations are adjacent to each other at Jalan Kapit Waterfront.
Later he visited the local MDTCC office and attended a briefing on supply issues pertaining to Ron 95 and diesel in Kapit. The briefing was done by an MDTCC officer, Idrus Nalin.
Chong’s visit was prompted by the differing prices of Ron 95 and diesel here and also the frequent interruption of fuel supply.
Last month and early this month, there were long queues of people carrying jerry cans trying to buy fuel prompting some netizens to report it on social media.
This caught the attention of the ministry and Chong confirmed that his visit was mainly because of the fuel supply interruption. He wanted feedback from both the petrol stations as the ministry wanted to find the best way to resolve the problem and stop it from recurring.
He said that as his ministry is in-charge of fuel supply, it must stop the supply interruption. He also wanted to know why there were different prices for the same types of fuel here when there was no such situation elsewhere.
“Why only in Kapit?” he asked.
The supply interruption, he said, was due to shipment delay which should be addressed.
He explained that the ministry standardised the prices of fuel in Sibu and Kapit, and the permit to sell fuel is also issued by the ministry.
“Now that we know there are different prices of fuel, it is the duty of the ministry to look into it,” he said.
He thanked the local officers of the ministry for having investigated the issues and then came up with some proposals.
In his briefing, Idrus explained that the suppliers, Shell Timur Berhad load their fuel in Sibu whereas Petronas Dagangan Berhad load theirs at Tanjung Manis in Kuala Rajang. The shipments on average take two days and are done once a week.
It is observed that Shell sells its fuel at commercial prices whereas Petronas’ are set by the supplier.
As for unbranded fuel, the cost of transportation is borne by consumers whereas Petronas subsidises the cost, which explains the different prices, according to Idrus.
MDTCC state director, Stanley Tan, pointed out that there were two land-based fuel stations (unbranded and Petronas’) and four floating fuel barges. Song town has one mini fuel station and a floating one.
He told reporters that their visit here was a combination of official business and a response to what happened last week when long queues of irate and panicky buyers formed at the town’s fuel stations.
“The ministry is very concerned about this as it happened repeatedly here. We want to see how best we can solve the problem,” he said.
“What happened earlier this month was caused by a delay in the transportation of fuel from Tanjung Manis to the Petronas station. While that was happening, there was only one station that sells Shell’s fuel at slightly higher prices.”
He revealed that as proposed by the local office of the ministry, there were two or three possible solutions.
“One: Ensure that that is regular supply of fuel, especially for the Petronas station. Two: Open up one or two more fuel stations, maybe in the outskirts to provide alternatives as the town can be congested at times,” said Tan.
“Once the Sibu-Kapit road has been completed there will be a big demand for fuel here. Only 15 kilometres of the road are still under construction. I think more fuel stations are needed – full-fledged stations, mini stations, and even portable container stations. Before that happens, we have to look into the cost of supplying fuel to these stations.”
Chong was accompanied by the ministry’s director Shamshuzaman Sulaiman, Sibu MP Oscar Ling, Pahlawan state assemblyman David Wong, Chong’s special assistant Sim Kiat Leng, DAP Sungai Kapit chairman Teng Mee Hieng, DAP Bukit Goram chairman Larry Asap and DAP Katibas chairman Paren Nyawi.
