KUCHING: The Ministry of Utilities and Telecommunication has issued a total of 437 handling permits and 355 Natural Gas (NG) and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) licences.
In a statement, the ministry said activities related to the commercial use and distribution of NG and LPG must be registered for licences or handling permits as stipulated in the Distribution of Gas Ordinance, 2016 (DGO 2016).
It added a recent awareness and inspection programme was conducted to enforce the DGO 2016.
“The programme engaged 32 officers from the Gas Distribution and Enforcement Division of the Ministry, Sarawak Security and Enforcement Unit (UKPS), Sarawak Fire and Rescue Department (Bomba), alongside local authorities such as Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) and Padawan Municipal Council (MPP).
“Throughout the programme, inspections covered self-service laundromats, restaurants, LPG distributors and shops retailing LPG cylinders in the Matang area here,” said the ministry.
Gas Distribution director Kasvenda Kassim noted that non-compliance with Section 7(g) of the DGO 2016 could lead to fines not exceeding RM 200,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both upon conviction.
“In addition, under the Distribution of Gas (Installation and Competency) Regulations, 2021, premises such as self-service laundromats and restaurants with gas installation systems must be registered with MUT, including contractors and workers who install gas installations.
“If any party is found to not comply with these regulations, offenders can be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for not more than two years, or both, upon conviction,” he said.
