UTILITY and Telecommunications Minister Datuk Julaihi Narawi wants more youth to get involved in the gas distribution business activities.
The Sebuyau assemblyman said this is in line with the state’s aspiration to increase the involvement of locals in the gas distribution industry in Sarawak.
“In efforts to strengthen the quality and level of efficiency of the people in gas distribution activities, my ministry has collaborated with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) to develop and conduct gas competency courses and training.
“This course is also conducted to meet the growing demand for gas competent persons,” he said in his winding up speech on Tuesday (May 24).
JulaIhi said his ministry would work with the Public Health, Housing and Local Government (MPHLG) ministry, government agencies and local authorities to guide and monitor the companies involved to ensure the safety of the people involved.
His ministry in collaboration with the State Safety and Enforcement Unit (UKPN) will carry out enforcement and monitoring of LPG distribution activities, to ensure that the relevant laws were complied with so that the people get adequate, affordable and safe gas supply.
“Through my ministry, the Sarawak government now has full authority to regulate gas distribution activities in Sarawak. The federal government through the Special Council Meeting of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) has granted exemption to obtain permission under the Petroleum Development Act 1974 and a licence under the Control of Supply Act 1962 to carry out gas distribution activities in Sarawak. This exemption took effect on 1 June 2021.”
With the gazetting of the two exemptions, he said DGO2016 licencees are given an exemption to obtain permission from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP).
“Following that, Sarawak has taken over the governance of the downstream gas industry while increasing the level of ease of doing business.
“To ensure a smooth transition process, a series of discussions were held to establish the Sarawak LPG Task Force. The Task Force aims to create an efficient regulatory framework by identifying overlapping legal issues, refining the licence application process and sharing enforcement procedures,” he explained.
