Saturday August 4, 2007
Najib: No 10pm closing for petrol stations
TELUK INTAN: Petrol dealers cannot be allowed to make a unilateral decision to close their petrol stations by 10pm, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said.
Commenting on a decision by the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia to open their petrol stations from 7am to 10pm, the Deputy Prime Minister said:
“They are bound by the Supply Control Act and must abide by the understanding with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
“They cannot be allowed to make a unilateral decision,” he said yesterday after opening the Teluk Intan Umno division meeting here, yesterday.
As such, Najib said, the association should consult the ministry before making a decision.
The association had decided on the matter, involving 3,200 petrol stations nationwide, at its annual general meeting on Wednesday.
Najib said consumers were unhappy with the fixed opening hours, adding that the public wanted the kiosks to open at all times.
In Kuala Lumpur, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said the ministry had, on Thursday, written to petroleum dealers and companies to not stop operating the stations at 10pm.
Speaking at the launching of Tesco's 50th Merdeka promotions at its outlet in Ampang, he said the ministry's doors were open to them for discussions.
He said the Supply Control Act stipulated that any action relating to distribution, marketing or business dealings for controlled items, could not be made without the approval of the Malaysian Supplies Controller.
The Tesco promotion covers over 1,600 product lines in all its 14 stores; including food items, health and beauty care.
Tesco Malaysia marketing director Paul Morris said there would be discounts of 25% to 50% on these items and some that offer a flat-priced merchandising equalling to a1957 theme.
“By this, I mean certain items will be priced at RM1, RM9, RM5 and RM7.
The promotion will see the hypermarket chain working with the Limkokwing University of Creative Technology to produce a mammoth 50th National Day greeting card.
The giant card is basically broken up into 14 jigsaw parts, with each part displayed at each of the Tesco stores nationwide. Combined they measure 2.4m by 34.1m , making it the biggest greeting card in the country.
