KOTA KINABALU: Laundry operators in Sabah are required to obtain approval and a licence from the Energy Commission of Sabah (ECoS) if they used piped gas for dryers and water heaters on the premises.
ECoS organised a compliance seminar for the operators concerned on Thursday (Aug 29) to improve their understanding of gas piping system safety and raise awareness of the licensing application process.
This included installation and operating approval procedures.
Speakers representing ECoS, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, Fire and Rescue Department and Kota Kinabalu City Hall (DBKK) briefed the operators on procedures and responsibilities.
ECoS chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Nasser Abdul Wahid said that as the regulatory authority for the energy industry in Sabah, it needed to ensure that gas piping systems at laundry premises are designed and installed according to the required standards and are safe for use.
"Operators who fail to comply may face legal action under Section 4 (3) of the Gas Supply Enactment 2023," he said in his speech read by chief operating officer Ridwan Saham.
He said penalties for non-compliance include fines of up to RM100,000, or imprisonment for up to three years, or both.
For continuing offences, additional fines of up to RM1,000 per day or part of a day may be imposed after conviction, he added.
Nasser said some laundry operators were not aware of or were ignoring the legal and safety standards, leading to risk of accidents, fires, or explosions due to gas leaks.
In addition to awareness seminars, he said ECoS would regularly inspect laundries to root out those operating without a valid ECoS licence.
