‘NO POLITICAL INTERVENTION IN SELECTING PETRON’
‘Appointment purely administrative, and other fuel suppliers can apply to join scheme’
THE Finance Ministry said the decision to appoint Petron Fuel International Sdn Bhd (Petron) to the panel of fuel suppliers for government transportation via the company’s indent cards is purely administrative for operational management.
It said the matter was not referred to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, and there was no political intervention in reaching the decision.
The ministry’s response comes following criticism from former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Pas deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man on Petron being made an official fuel supplier for government transportation.
“As a former finance minister, Najib should know that BHP and Caltex can apply to be part of the panel if they are interested (in the arrangement).
“The Finance Ministry will process any request based on guidelines used on Petronas, Shell and Petron.
“With this appointment, the indent card panel is now made up of Petronas, Shell and Petron. These three companies have the largest petrol station networks in Malaysia,” the ministry said yesterday.
Najib said Petron’s appointment to be part of the panel could raise a moral conflict as many believed Petronas should take over.
The ministry said Petron was included in the panel this year following a two-year discussion.
It said Petron submitted a request in 2016, and in December last year, the company agreed to provide the Federal Government a small discount via its indent card programme.
“The discussion that began under Najib’s administration shows that the previous government had no qualms in considering Petron’s application and the new Federal Government is only carrying on with the internal process as per the guidelines.
“This approval on Petron’s application does not incur any cost to the Federal Government and this internal process does not require the Finance Minister’s approval. “The appointment was transparent and is not linked to any politician.”
It said as stated on Aug 30, the ministry would not stop any fuel companies, like BHP and Caltex, to apply for inclusion into the panel through their indent card programmes.
“There is no limit on the number (of companies) that can be in the panel and the number can be increased if other suppliers make official requests by giving the Federal Government logical savings through their indent cards.
“For now, there are no other applications received by the Finance Ministry from other fuel suppliers.”
The Finance Ministry will process any request based on the guidelines used on Petronas, Shell and Petron. FINANCE MINISTRY