Chong (second left) declares open the new petrol station, while Md Nawawi (left), Sng (behind Chong), Abang Jimmy (third right) and others look on.
SIBU: The proposal to set up mini fuel stations and portable container system (PCS) in small towns and rural areas in Sarawak will be implemented in January next year.
Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Chong Chieng Jen, however, said they needed cooperation from the Sarawak government, oil companies and the local people for the proposal to materialise.
He believed this was one of ways for the government to generate savings while achieving the same purpose of low prices in rural areas in respect to essential goods.
“The project is still in the planning stage, we need cooperation from the Sarawak government. There are many parties we need to discuss with, and get their cooperation from. We are hoping to implement the project in January next year,” he told reporters after declaring open Petronas new station at Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman 2 here yesterday.
Asked if only Petronas was invited to set up these mini stations and PCS, Chong said it’s open to all oil companies operating in Sarawak willing to contribute towards the cause.
He added they were targeting 50 to 60 of such facilities to be set up in Sarawak, saying the facilities would double as distribution centres for all types of goods.
Chong also touched on price standardisation programme, with the government bearing the transportation cost of essential items.
“We have this price standardisation programme, where we bear the cost of transportation of essential items, including liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), diesel and petrol. LPG, diesel and petrol come under the community drumming programme, one of programmes under the price standardisation programme.
“But we feel there is a slight inefficiency. In Sibu, RM10 million has been spent this year for the programme; Miri (RM16 million), and Bintulu (RM13 million). The total for Sarawak is about RM98 million a year to pay transporters.”
On a related subject, Chong said the government had spent about RM2 billion on subsidy to maintain the prices of fuel.He reckoned that if the previous government had not been changed, inflation would have set in.
Back to Petronas, he urged the oil company to also pay special attention to the needs and demands of the rural folk.
He suggested that it (Petronas) look into the cross subsidy policy to operate in the rural areas even at a loss to entice more entrepreneurs to have joint venture with them (Petronas).
Meanwhile, acting head of retail strategy delivery division of Petronas Dagangan Berhad, Abang Jimmy Abang Mordian, said the new station was the 1,054th in the country, and 90th in Sarawak.
“It is our promise to be where our customers need us and bridge the gap in supply and demand,” he said.
At the same function, Harapan Optima Sdn Bhd director Wong Pik Chew gave some contribution to 15 pupils of SK Pendidikan Khas Sibu and 39 pupils of SK Bahagia Jaya Sibu.
Pelawan assemblyman David Wong, Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Sarawak deputy director Md Nawawi Abdul Rahman and station owner Daniel Sng were also present at the function.