A total of 3,500 petrol stations in Peninsular Malaysia have sustained losses amounting to RM181 million since the floating of diesel fuel pricing in June this year, reported The Star.
According to Bumiputera Petrol Station Operators Association of Malaysia (Bumipeda) honorary secretary Datin Hanny Julia Haron, the subsidy rationalisation for diesel fuel in Peninsular Malaysia had faced operators with a severe economic challenge.
“About 98% of petrol stations are reportedly suffering losses from petrol and diesel sales, forcing many to shift their focus to convenience store operations in a bid to offset declining fuel revenues,” Hanny Julia said, adding that the current trend could lead to higher unemployment rates and reduced government revenues from taxes and levies.
Closures of stations, or scaled-down operations would also disrupt local economies, which will affect businesses like workshops and other retail outlets, she added.
“The APM must be aligned with the national annual budget to reflect today’s economic realities,” stating her view that the automatic pricing mechanism (APM), which has been in place since 1983, needs to be reviewed. Hanny Julia also raised concerns for confusion and instability due to dual pricing for fuels within the same storage tank, as operators are forced to buy fuel at high prices but sell it at lower prices.
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AI-generated Summary ✨
Comments largely focus on clarifying the impact of diesel subsidy rationalization, with many arguing that the reported RM181 million loss is actually a reduction in profit, not real loss, and driven by decreased sales and smuggling prevention. Several commenters question the legitimacy of the claims, suggesting some operators were profiting illegally from smuggling or relying heavily on subsidies, and that their complaints are exaggerated or unfounded. Others highlight that stations are shifting focus to convenience stores or closing down due to reduced margins, with some criticizing the association's narrative as self-serving or misleading. Overall, sentiments range from skepticism and criticism of inflated loss claims to acknowledgment that reduced subsidies will result in lower profits and potential station closures, especially among Bumiputera operators.