Hasan assures sufficient fuel supply nationwide

Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek has given assurance that there will be sufficient supply of petrol and diesel in the country to meet consumer demands during Aidiltfitri and in the future. He said he was able to give the assurance after convening a meeting with fuel station operators recently. "The recent shortage of petrol and diesel was due to panic-buying, which was caused by speculation of an increase in the price of petrol and diesel. "I would like to advise the public not to believe in such a speculation and to stop spreading the rumours because panic-buying will only cause problems," he told reporters here yesterday. Hasan, who is the Kuala Pilah member of Parliament the public could lodge complaints to his ministry if they were denied purchase of petrol or diesel by any fuel station operators. Meanwhile, Hasan said the Cabinet had also given its consent to the ministry to carry out detailed study on matters concerning prices of goods and leakage rates. "We will take matters to the national key result areas (NKRA) labs to be studied thoroughly. We will also take into consideration the matters of subsidy," he said. Earlier, the minister attended the breaking-of-fast event organised by Pilah state constituency at Al-Firdaus Mosque in Melang and presented Baitumal aid of RM3,500 each to eight mosques in the state. At the event, over 300 orphans, senior citizens and single mothers also received Raya goodies, courtesy of Companies Commission of Malaysia, Bank Rakyat, Mara Education Foundation and Tesco Hypermarket. Also present was Pilah assemblywoman Datuk Norhayati Omar.