Kuala lumpur: The government has not implemented a targeted subsidy for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), allowing all micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to continue enjoying the benefits. Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said that MSMEs, particularly in the food sector, should use the LPG subsidy without passing on costs through higher product prices.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, 'For now, the government will ensure that LPG subsidy benefits households as well as micro and medium traders, especially in the food and beverage sector,' she said during the question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today. She said this in her reply to a question from Datuk Shamshulkahar Mohd Deli (BN-Jempol), who asked about the government's measures to prevent LPG subsidy leakage and reduce the cost burden on MSMEs, such as food stalls, amid efforts to rationalise LPG subsidies for the commercial sector.

Fuziah added that 489 cases of LPG subsidy abuse had been detected, with seizures amounting to RM3.1 million from 2024 until Aug 18 this year. To combat such abuse, she said the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) had launched 'Operasi Gas Memasak' (Op Gasak) from May 1 to Oct 31, aimed at curbing LPG subsidy misuse by ineligible sectors in the commercial and large-scale business industries.

'Among the targeted abuses is decanting, the illegal transfer of LPG from subsidised cylinders to industrial or commercial cylinders. KPDN will also leverage digital technology to enhance monitoring and enforcement of the distribution, storage, and use of subsidised LPG in the market,' she added.