‘My duty as rep to defend Sabahans'
'My duty as rep to defend Sabahans'
Kota Kinabalu:
Warisan Vice President Datuk Junz Wong said his recent remarks on the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) regulation were grounded in Sabahan grassroots' concerns and not driven by political motives.
He said it is his responsibility as an assemblyman to speak up for his constituents, particularly when they face difficulties arising from policies implemented by the relevant ministry.
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'My questions were directed to you because you are the relevant Minister, a Sabahan, and also a GRS leader. Naturally, I expect you to understand the high cost of living that Sabahans face,' said Wong, in response to criticism from Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
Wong said his mention of the GRS government was directly linked to Armizan's role within it.
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'In this case, it's about the 'removal' of subsidised LPG for small businesses. If even raising Sabahans' concerns is labelled as politically motivated, are we saying elected reps should stay silent? he said.
On Armizan's statement that the regulation was based on a 2021 amendment under the previous administration, Wong questioned the timing of its enforcement.
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'If this law has existed since 2021, why enforce it only now? And why wasn't there a public explanation before enforcement began?'
Wong said the central concern was about small food vendors now being required to apply for permits if they store more than 42kg of LPG at any given time.
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Let's apply simple logic. Are you saying small vendors only use three 14kg cylinders per month?
'That's hardly enough for any business. This isn't about big players, it's about our hawkers, kopitiams and local food stalls,' he said.
He questioned whether the policy applied only to storage above 42kg at one time, or total usage over a month, and asked what would happen to vendors who exceed that limit, whether they would be forced to switch to unsubsidised cylinders priced at RM76.
Wong warned that such enforcement could compel vendors to increase their prices, further burdening consumers.
'Sabahans can't afford another round of price hikes. If the cost of LPG rises from RM26.60 to RM76 per cylinder for vendors, how can they maintain current food prices? In the end, it's the people who suffer,' he cautioned.
He urged the Ministry to engage constructively and find a fair solution.
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