Self-service no burden to consumers, say petrol dealers

PETALING JAYA: The self-service concept practised at petrol stations to reduce operations cost following the implementation of minimum wage should not burden consumers, said Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia president Datuk Hashim Othman.

He said that self-service would be the way to reduce costs in view of the minimum wage ruling which took effect on Jan 1.

“We hope that oil companies and consumers will cooperate with us in this effort to reduce costs and the dependence on foreign workers,” he said when contacted.

On Tuesday, it was reported that about 50,000 foreign workers at petrol stations nationwide were expected to have their services terminated this year following the implementation of the minimum wage.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Maznah Mazlan said the termination process would depend on the contract between the workers and employers.

“When wages increase, we find that employers will promote selfservice in line with the rise in labour cost,” she said.

Hashim said that the 50,000 workers might not necessarily be laid off as some workers were still needed at petrol stations as it was difficult to hire locals.

The self-service concept was introduced in 2006 but some petrol companies did not adhere to it, he said.

Under the self-service system, only a maximum of three workers were recommended to work in a big petrol station but just one is required at a “regular” petrol station, he said.

Fomca deputy president Muhammad Sha’ani Abdullah also concurred that the self-service concept would not affect consumers.

“Consumers are used to filling up their own tanks,” he said.

Those who still want to offer extra workers at their kiosks would have to fork out more money, he added.