A large portion of the 3,800 fuel stations nationwide may have to temporarily seize operations after a drop in fuel prices for three consecutive weeks couple with the Movement Control Order.
This was the concern raised by the Petrol Dealers Association Malaysia, President, Khairul Annuar Abdual Aziz as reported by Free Malaysia Today.
It’s said that a petrol station needs between RM150,000 to RM200,000 a month to purchase fuel and up to RM70,000 depending on the size of the facility, to run their daily operations, pay wages and utilities.
With fuel prices have been dropping every week, petrol station owners are selling their fuel at a lower price than they bought it for and are essentially subsidising fuel for customers at the peril of their business.
In the same report, Khairul also suggested for the government to limit a petrol station’s operating hours – from 7 am to 7 pm during the Movement Control Order period. This would help petrol station owners reduce their operating cost as electricity bills alone can run up to RM15,000 a month.
He also stressed that pump attendants should not be made to work and that the government should make it a rule to protect them.
