‘Go after border criminals for misuse of subsidised LPG'

The Star

4 days ago

PETALING JAYA: Enforcement against the misuse of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) under Ops Gasak should focus on large-scale operations and at the country's borders instead of petty traders and hawkers, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong ( pic ).
He said the main issue is smuggling activities at the border and the abuse of targeted subsidies.
'The focus should be on factories and borders. It should not be to punish small traders who are trying to earn a living,' he said in a video uploaded on social media yesterday.
Dr Wee said that videos and complaints from small traders about the raids showed that action was taken not only on big businesses.
(According to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Ops Gasak being carried out from May 1 to Oct 31 is meant to deal with illegal decanting activities, smuggling, and usage by large and medium-scale industries.)
Dr Wee said that the government, if it is allowing petty traders to use subsidised gas, should bring the proposal to Cabinet.
'Make a final decision that from now, all petty traders can use subsidised LPG gas,' Dr Wee said.
He also said roadside traders had been using subsidised gas cylinders up till 2024 without fear of any enforcement action taken against them.
'There have not been large-scale operations on this until May this year, which targeted roadside and petty traders.'
He said that even the first Pakatan Harapan administration once mandated restaurants and eateries to use commercial gas in 2019 but later rescinded the move in view of the burden on the public.
Dr Wee has recently urged the government to give hawkers an assurance that they can continue using subsidised LPG so that it would not lead to food prices going up.
He said this in response to concerns raised by hawkers and consumers about a possible hike in prices due to Ops Gasak.