More mini petrol stations for Kapit to overcome shortage

KUCHING: More mini petrol stations or Portable Container System (PCS) pump stations will be opened to resolve persistent fuel shortages faced in Kapit, says Deputy Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Chong Chieng Jen.

His ministry, he said in a statement, has engaged with several oil companies to facilitate the opening of these stations outside Kapit town to serve the needs of the people in the area.

“We are at the final stage of formulating this new policy and I am confident that before Hari Gawai this year, the people of Kapit will see at least two additional PCS pump stations, if not mini petrol stations, in the surrounding area,” he said.

To resolve the present shortage, Chong said he had instructed oil companies to immediately increase the supply of petrol and diesel.

The fuel shortage in Kapit, he said, is among many problems the Pakatan Harapan government inherited.

At the moment, there are only two petrol stations in Kapit, one Petronas and one unbranded petrol station.

“Previously, many applied to open up more petrol stations but such applications were either rejected or put on hold by the previous government.

“As a result, the people of Kapit face recurring petrol and diesel shortage and also higher fuel prices,” he said.

In Kuching, Sarawak Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs deputy director Md Nawawi Abdul Rahman said there was sufficient fuel supply throughout the state, including rural areas.

According to Bernama, he said 392 inspections had been carried out on petrol stations throughout Sarawak.

“We are very satisfied, the fuel supply in the state is sufficient,” he said after an inspection in Kota Samarahan, here, yesterday.

Md Nawawi said recently there was a viral message claiming that the fuel supply in the Kapit area had run out.

“It is understood that the place which had run out of fuel supply is a privately owned station, and not one of the country’s leading chain petrol stations.

“The supply was cut off due to delivery issues, whereby the cost of delivering oil from Tanjung Manis to Kapit is borne by the businessman. However, the problem has already been resolved,” he said.