KPDN: Fuel supply stable, enforcement tightened to prevent misuse

BAU (April 1): There is no shortage of fuel supply, with sufficient stock to meet demand nationwide, said Datuk Azman Adam.

The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Enforcement director-general said fuel supply is monitored daily, and overall availability remains stable.

“From the government’s assurance, there is no issue in terms of supply for the next one to two months—it is sufficient.

“Any incidents such as delays in tanker arrivals may cause temporary disruptions, but not a shortage,” he told reporters after a walkabout session at Petronas Tasik Biru on Wednesday.

He stressed that the government’s fuel subsidy is specifically intended for the people here and must be safeguarded to prevent misuse.

“Our subsidy is for our people and we must ensure that supply remains sufficient and is not misused or abused,” he said.

Azman noted that some petrol stations have taken their own initiatives to control diesel distribution, including setting a maximum limit of 50 litres per transaction at outdoor terminal pumps.

“For larger vehicles such as lorries requiring more fuel, they must proceed to the counter, where the limit can be adjusted up to 150 litres. These are measures taken by the industry as part of cooperation with the government to ensure supply remains stable,” he said.

Addressing public concerns over RON95 availability, he said supply at petrol stations is managed with cooperation of industry players.

“If there are issues of insufficient supply, KPDN will first conduct investigations to determine the cause of any sudden increase in demand.

“For example, during festive seasons during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri, certain routes may see higher demand due to increased traffic along main roads. These are factors we will consider,” he said.

He added that investigations would include reviewing petrol station logbooks and closed-circuit television (CCTV) recordings to verify purchasing activities.

“Consumers no need to worry. In Sarawak there are 283 petrol stations, while nationwide there are more than 4,400 stations. Our officers will also continue to carry out inspections and monitoring on an ongoing basis,” he said.

Azman said enforcement efforts will be carried out in phases following measures introduced on Wednesday, with further actions to be announced once targets are identified based on the outcomes of these implementations.

“In cases where there is a sudden spike in sales, KPDN officers may be deployed on a static basis at the station to observe operations directly and determine whether the sales are genuine or suspicious. We may also deploy intelligence officers,” he said.

He warned that strict action will be taken against any parties found to be involved in irregularities, including selling fuel to ineligible parties, exceeding permitted quantities or diverting fuel to smugglers or unauthorised industries.

Investigations will be conducted under the Control of Supplies Act, where first-time offenders may face fines of up to RM1 million or imprisonment of up to three years, while companies may be fined up to RM2 million.

“We may also investigate under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) if there are elements of profiteering,” he added.

He noted that the government currently bears a substantial fuel subsidy estimated at between RM4 billion and RM5 billion per month, particularly for RON95 petrol and diesel.

Azman on Monday said CCTV systems will be installed at petrol stations identified as high-risk for the misappropriation of subsidised RON95 petrol, to enhance monitoring efforts. The footage will be channelled directly to the KPDN enforcement control centre and state offices.