S’wak DAP chief urges State govt not to terminate MyGaz LPG distribution licence

Chong Chieng Jen

KUCHING, Nov 25: Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman Chong Chieng Jen has urged the Sarawak government not to terminate the gas distribution licence of MyGaz, which would allow Petros Niaga to monopolise the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution business Sarawak starting Dec 1.

“Such a decision will thus result in Petros Niaga being the sole distributor of LPG in Sarawak,” he said in a statement today.

Chong, who is also the MP for Stampin and assemblyman for Padungan, added that the sudden announcement has not only immediately ceased all of MyGaz’s business in Sarawak but also put an abrupt stop to the businesses of MyGaz’s retailers and distributors in Sarawak and their employees.

“In the long run, we all know that monopoly business is not good for consumers. Without any competition, companies will have no incentive to provide the best service at the lowest possible price to consumers,” he added.

Chong shared that when the gas distribution power was agreed to be devolved from the federal government (Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumers’ Affair) to the State government in 2019, it was intended that such devolution of power would result in more efficient planning and implementation of the LPG gas distribution policy in the State and thus bring more benefit to the people of Sarawak.

“A few years have passed since the devolution of power. Yet, we still do not see any benefit to the people of Sarawak arising from this,” he said.

He further lamented that there is no reduction in the price of LPG for consumers and no reduction in the delivery costs to consumers.

Chong opined that with the creation of this monopoly in the LPG distribution business in Sarawak, instead of enjoying any benefits from the devolution of power, the people of Sarawak are likely to be subject to paying more for their LPG consumption in the future. — DayakDaily