One-Stop-centre To Expedite Issuing Of Licence To Open Petrol Stations.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is setting up a one-stop centre to expedite the process of applying for licences to open petrol stations under the Petroleum Development Act. Its minister, Datuk Mohamed Shafie Apdal said the decision was taken after considering the long time it took to process such applications as it also involved other agencies like local government authorities, the Land Office and the Fire and Rescue Department.

Based on the study by the ministry, Shafie said the delay in issuing the licence, which sometimes took seven years, was due to the processes which the applicants had to go through, including land acquisition. He said such delays would hamper efforts by the government to produce more petrol station operators, who now totalled about 2,800 people.

He hoped the setting up of the one-stop centre would shorten the time to approve the licence to one year and would encourage more people to venture into the sector.

**** My observations regarding this is based on personal experience and may not reflect the real situation. It would seem that there is some rule that the authorities are following, whereby near total monopoly of petrol stations is given to the Malays. I have no quarrel with that and if it improves the lot of the average, honest bumi, so be it. But there are rumours that many of these petrol station owners are merely proxies for influential politicians who use their positions in Umno to garner licences and then pressure the relevant authorities to alienate prime land in strategic areas to set up their stations. How much truth is there in that accusation? Will anyone be able to disprove it?

I don't know if anyone else has noticed that the standard of service in petrol stations have been in decline over the years. While not wanting to give it an ethnic slant, the disparity in service you get between a Chinese-owned station and that of a Malay one is glaring. In the Chinese station you can get apart from petrol, several important services including engine-servicing, carwash and the now in-fashion shop. Malay stations dispense fuel and have a shop. Some have carwash facilities, while most have no other service to attract customers. Even the air-pressure equipment either don't work or are missing. It is as if they are not too concerned about making the extra buck, feeling satisfied if the petrol/diesel purchase is adequate. But as I said earlier this is based on my personal experience. Others may have a different view and you are all welcome to give your comments on this here.