KOTA KINABALU: The Department of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism must take immediate action to resolve the acute shortage of subsidized diesel, otherwise all economic sectors that require diesel fuel will be at a standstill in the next one week, thereby causing huge losses to the State.
Minister of Special Tasks, Datuk Teo Chee Kang, explained that sometimes quotas of subsidized diesel allocated to fuel stations are sold off before the month end, thus causing a shortage on the last one or two days of the month.
“However, there has not been any sudden surge in demand lately, and yet we are running out of supply at this time of the month! This is something that the authority must investigate, tighten enforcement and take stern actions, including revoking their licences, against those who sell subsidized diesel to industry players with the aim of maximizing profit,” said Teo, who is also Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (CVLB) chairman, in a press statement issued yesterday.
Teo also urged the relevant enforcement agencies to take steps to curb smuggling activities which led to subsidized diesel being sold to our neighbouring countries.
“I also urge the public to report to the CVLB if they find commercial vehicles with modified and extraordinarily large fuel tanks. If they do not have the relevant approval, we will revoke their licences,” he warned.