KUCHING, Aug 15: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry views seriously the recent shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) cylinders by company MyGaz as it was affecting many households and the livelihoods of hawkers and food stalls operators.
Its Deputy Minister, Chong Chieng Jen, said upon investigation, the ministry was informed by MyGaz that the valves of more than 34,000 of its yellow gas cylinders were found to be leaking.
“As such, the problem reduced its daily production of 10,000 ‘tong’ to half the volume,” he said in a statement today.
Chong said MyGaz had taken steps to remedy the situation by ordering more cylinders from West Malaysia, buying new cylinders and importing new valves from Thailand.
“However, a week after the first incident happened, there is still no satisfactory deadline given by MyGaz to fully resolve the problem,” he lamented.
Chong said, meanwhile, the ministry had contacted Petronas which is ready with excess gas cyclinders (green gas cylinders) to meet the demand from MyGaz customers, but Petronas would need MyGaz to supply the information on its distribution network and customers facing the shortage.
“The ministry has also issued directives to MyGaz to supply such information together with its ‘action plan’ to the ministry so that the problem can be resolved in the shortest time possible.
“I urge MyGaz to give full co-operation to the ministry so that the ministry does not need to resort to stern actions under the provisions of the Control Supply Act, 1961.
“The business and profit consideration on the part of MyGaz should not take precedence over the greater public interest of having an uninterrupted supply of LPG cylinders,” said Chong. — DayakDaily
