22-05-2025
Man fined RM10,000 for illegal taking subsidised LPG out of Sarawak
LAWAS: A 55-year-old man from Ba'kelalan has been fined RM10,000, in default 10 months' imprisonment, for illegally attempting to transport subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) out of Sarawak.
Dison Sakai pleaded guilty before the Limbang Sessions Court on Thursday (May 22) to an amended charge under Section 20(8) of the Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016.
The offence was committed on April 22 at around 1:30pm at a premises in Kampung Punang Kelalan, near the international border in Ba'kelalan.
Dison was caught attempting to transport 30 cylinders of subsidised 14kg LPG without a licence issued by the Gas Supply Sarawak director.
He had been operating the business using only a general trading licence issued by the Lawas district office.
Defence counsels Eunice Ding and Joshua Baru told the court that this was their client's first offence and that he was remorseful.
He had also expressed commitment to apply for the necessary licences in compliance with the ordinance, noting that the issuance of such licences had previously been under the purview of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Deputy public prosecutor Ronald Felix Hardin submitted that Dison's actions had undermined Sarawak's regulatory control over its oil and gas industry, particularly with the sale of subsidised LPG to foreign nationals.
Several enforcement officers from the Sarawak Premier Department and the Sarawak Utility and Telecommunication Ministry were present during the court proceedings.
Judge Monica Linsua imposed the sentence after considering public interest factors. Dison paid the fine.
Separately at the same court, Judge Monica also granted an application for the disposal of four seized LPG cylinders.
The application, filed by the Utility and Telecommunication Ministry Sarawak under Section 23A of the Distribution of Gas Ordinance 2016, was in relation to cylinders confiscated on 22 April 22 near the Ba'kelalan border. No claims had been made for the items since the seizure.
Earlier this year, reports emerged of subsidised LPG being sold for as much as RM90 in Sarawak's highlands and up to RM150 across the border.
