PETALING JAYA: Consumers will ultimately have to bear the cost as all eateries, including hawker stalls, are now required to use the 14kg commercial liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) cylinders, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic).
The MCA president said the use of the commercial cylinder is costlier by 170% compared with the household subsidised gas cylinder sold at just RM26.
He said the cost of preparing food will be directly affected with the increase in the price of gas.
“What does the 170% increase have to do with the cost of living?
“If you want to eat rice or noodles, you have to cook it first. To cook, you need fire. For fire, you need gas. If the price of gas goes up, then the price of food will also go up.
“Who has to bear this price increase? The answer, of course, is consumers,” said the Ayer Hitam MP in a video posted on social media yesterday.
He added that traders also need a permit if they use more than three 14kg LPG cylinders a month, and failing which, are subject to action under Op Gasak by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
According to Dr Wee, there was no need to be too strict on small-time food vendors who barely earn enough to make ends meet.
He questioned why the government is unable to provide subsidies to small traders despite being the world’s fifth largest exporter of liquefied natural gas.
“What is the point of billions of investments if we cannot cover gas subsidies, said to be RM3.4bil in 2024?
“What is the point of increasing the Sales and Service Tax (SST) rate from 6% to 8% if the revenue collected is not returned to the people through subsidies?” he added.
As of May 1, eateries, including hawker stalls, will be required to use the 14kg purple-coloured commercial gas cylinders priced at RM70.
The ministry also launched Op Gasak to combat any misuse of subsidised LPG and has so far made seizures amounting to RM883,000.
On May 23, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the LPG subsidy cost the government RM3.4bil.
He said that premises using more than three commercial gas cylinders must apply for a permit under the regulations of the Control of Supplies (Amendment) Act 2021.
The government had planned the switch to commercial gas in 2019 but postponed its enforcement.
