Ceiling price for fuel will hurt rural kiosks: MP
Published on: Tuesday, March 07, 2017
PETALING JAYA: The introduction of a ceiling price for fuel that will be reviewed weekly next month will affect the income of rural petrol station operators, says Rafizi Ramli.The Pandan MP said operators in rural areas were unable to sell fuel lower than the ceiling price unlike those in the urban areas."They are paid according to the number of litres of petrol and diesel they sell every month. In rural areas, the sales volume is lower because of the low population.
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"Petrol stations may be accused of profiteering when they do not lower the oil price below the ceiling price as this will be unprofitable for them to do," he said in a statement Monday.On Saturday, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Hamzah Zainuddin said the ceiling price of fuel would be announced weekly from next month.He said the announcement would likely be made on Monday or Saturday each week.The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC), on the other hand, said the introduction of the ceiling price was a commendable step towards a competitive market that would benefit the people.
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Bernama quoted MyCC Commissioner Dr Gan Khuan Poh as saying a ceiling price would encourage retailers to lower their prices to compete for business."We are doing it weekly here. In the United States, it is being done daily."
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Gan said with the new ceiling price, consumers would have more options.Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia President Khairul Annuar Abdul Aziz said petrol dealers from across the country would be meeting Hamzah today (Tuesday) to discuss the move to introduce a ceiling price weekly.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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