Stop the blame game, focus on Ops Gasak enforcement issue, Dr Wee tells ministry

The Star

2 days ago

JOHOR BARU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry should focus on the real issue regarding the enforcement of Ops Gasak instead of blaming the previous government, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president said this in response to its Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, who reportedly claimed that the law behind the enforcement, where eateries are required to use 14kg commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, was passed when Dr Wee was in the Cabinet.
'The core issue is not about who passed the amendments to the Control of Supplies Regulations in 2021, but how it is being enforced today.
'Yes, the amendment in 2021 was passed while I was part of the Cabinet.
"However, up until 2024, there were no large-scale enforcement operations like Ops Gasak that aggressively targeted night markets, stalls, small vendors and food hawkers as it has been done since May 2025,' he said in a statement on Sunday (June 1).
Dr Wee added that even the previous Pakatan Harapan government had backtracked on its plan to enforce the law after considering its consequences.
'The Pakatan Harapan 1.0 government in 2019 also attempted to enforce the use of commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in restaurants and eateries, but they halted the move after realising the burden it placed on the public.
'The existence of a law does not mean enforcement must be harsh or sudden.
"Many laws have existed for years, but enforcement is often carried out based on the government's discretion and necessity,' he said.
Dr Wee cited the Stamp Act 1949 as an example of such a law, saying that while it has been in force for decades, widespread enforcement on employment agreement stamping only ramped up in 2025.
'Likewise, Ops Gasak, this large-scale enforcement is an administrative decision made by the Madani government in 2025, not a directive from the Cabinet when the 2021 amendment was passed,' he said.
Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said the enforcement burdens small traders at a time when the public is already under pressure.
'The Sales and Service Tax (SST) hike and the expansion of its scope will begin in June, electricity tariffs will increase in July, RON95 subsidies are being retargeted, and the minimum wage has increased to RM1,700.
'All these add to the operating costs of small traders, and Ops Gasak, which targets small traders using only 12kg and 14kg LPG cylinders, further worsens the pressure on the rakyat,' he said.
He added that a PETRONAS directive, which quoted the Ministry many times, revealed the real impact of Ops Gasak on small traders.
'In a letter dated April 30, 2025, PETRONAS instructed all gas distributors to stop selling subsidised LPG (12kg and 14kg cylinders) to all commercial premises, including restaurants, food stalls and warung.
'This directive has directly caused confusion, anxiety and hardship to thousands of small traders who now fear enforcement action even though they have only ever used small cylinders.
'On the ground, we continue to see many videos and complaints of inspections on small traders, which contradict the narrative that only large industries are being targeted,' he said.
Dr Wee added that Malaysians deserve to benefit from being among the largest gas producers in the world and that LPG subsidies are also not a major financial burden to the country.
As of May 1, eateries, including hawker stalls, will be required to use the 14kg purple-coloured commercial gas cylinders priced at RM70.