3 days ago
You can amend the regulations anytime as minister, Dr Wee tells Armizan
PETALING JAYA: Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali can exercise his ministerial powers according to his discretion to amend the Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021, says MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
This was because under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, Armizan has the prerogative as minister to amend the Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021.
'As the Minister for nearly two years, why didn't you speak out from the beginning regarding this regulation?
'The regulation can be amended at any time by you. Instead, you chose to enforce Ops Gasak strictly, which created anger among hawkers and concerns among small-time traders and the public.
'And when the pressure came in from all sides, you took a u-turn, apparently the Cabinet agreed to give a few exemptions that will be announced later,' said Dr Wee in a video posted on Facebook on June 10 (Tuesday).
Dr Wee also said the Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021 clearly stated that all shops must use commercial LPG gas cylinders beginning 2021, and traders were concerned whether or not they are allowed to use subsidised gas cylinders that cost much less.
'You can amend this regulation now, sign it and send it to the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) for the federal gazettal process,' he said.
The war of words over subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) between Dr Wee and Armizan erupted recently when the latter accused the former of being involved in approving the controversial Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021 when he was the then transport minister in 2021.
On June 8, Dr Wee had said that although he served as a Cabinet Minister in 2021, he had never been involved in approving such regulations.
In response, Armizan said Dr Wee was referring to a different law, and in his press conference on June 5, he clearly stated that his ministry was enforcing Ops Gasak under the Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021 to combat the smuggling of subsidised LPG cylinders, among others.
In refuting Armizan's accusations, Dr Wee said the Control of Supplies (Amendment) regulations 2021 had nothing to do with him, as it does not fall under the purview of the Transport Ministry.
'What has the Transport Ministry got to do with this? Unless you assume that all ministers should read and approve federal gazettes together.
'Then all the ministers should be blamed at that time,' said Dr Wee.
Dr Wee said that Armizan had accused him of referring to the wrong law, although he quoted 2021 parliamentary Hansards, which showed that during debates on the Control of Supplies (Amendment) Act 2021, there was no mention about regulating subsidised LPG cylinders
'I have shown proof and now, the Minister should also show evidence through the Control of Supplies (Amendment) Regulations 2021, which clearly states that all restaurants must use commercial LPG and not subsidised LPG beginning 2021,' said Dr Wee.
Dr Wee also said he was disappointed that Armizan did not reply to a May 31 text message from him enquiring about the issue.
The Control of Supplies (Amendment) Regulations 2021, which came into force on Oct 15, 2021, limit the use of subsidised LPG to a maximum of 42kg at any one time for commercial purposes.
Any shop exceeding this limit must obtain a permit and switch to non-subsidised LPG.
On Thursday (June 5), Armizan said small and micro-scale F&B operators would be exempted from enforcement under the ongoing Ops Gasak
Armizan stated that the Cabinet had agreed to review the regulations concerning the use of subsidised LPG cylinders by these traders, following recommendations submitted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Ops Gasak, which began on May 1 and ended on Oct 31, was aimed at curbing illegal activities such as decanting (transferring gas from subsidised LPG cylinders to non-subsidised ones), smuggling, and the misuse of subsidised LPG by medium and large-scale industrial sectors.
Dr Wee had said that the Ops Gasak should have focused on large-scale operations and at the borders, rather than on petty traders and hawkers.
The crux of the issue, said Dr Wee, was the smuggling activities at the borders and abuse of targeted subsidies.
