3 days ago
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Govt to review gas tank rule for micro, small F&B traders
The Control of Supplies Regulations (Amendment) 2021 currently states that any business using over 42kg of LPG at any one time must apply for a scheduled controlled goods permit. (Bernama pic)
PUTRAJAYA : The Cabinet has agreed to review the regulations governing the use of subsidised liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders by traders, says domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali.
Armizan said the amendments would focus on the needs of micro- and small-sized food and beverage (F&B) traders and ensure clarity regarding the regulation.
The Control of Supplies Regulations (Amendment) 2021, or PPKB (Amendment) 2021, currently states that any business using over 42kg of LPG at any one time must apply for a scheduled controlled goods permit.
Armizan said a technical committee chaired by his ministry's secretary-general will look into the review, as well as obtain the recommendations and views of various stakeholders.
Until the review is finalised, no legal action will be taken against micro- and small-sized businesses in the F&B sector regarding the use of subsidised cooking gas tanks.
'In this period, micro- and small-sized F&B businesses are allowed to acquire subsidised LPG cylinders without the scheduled controlled goods permit,' he added.
However, he said the ministry's Op Gasak will continue to be enforced to combat the illegal use of subsidised LPG cylinders by non-eligible industries and the decanting of gas from subsidised cylinders to non-subsidised ones before being sold at a profit.
Armizan previously said Op Gasak, which will be carried out until Oct 31, was mainly to combat illegal decanting, smuggling and use of LPG cylinders by large- and medium-sized industries.
He denied claims that the LPG subsidies were being cut, after several opposition MPs and MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the operation would burden small F&B businesses.
The minister said a report on Op Gasak will serve as one of the key references for reviewing the PPKB (Amendment) 2021 after the operation is over.
