Kuala lumpur: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) is conducting engagement sessions with relevant associations to discuss the retail pricing policy for petroleum products and the rates under the Automatic Pricing Mechanism (APM). Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, announced that the feedback and recommendations from these sessions will be forwarded to the Finance Ministry (MoF), which is responsible for overseeing the matter.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, there have been appeals from companies and petrol station operators to review the APM rates. Minister Armizan expressed confidence that once the government finalizes the policy and subsidy targeting mechanism for RON95, the MoF, as the central agency, will consider new APM rates. He shared these insights with reporters at a Petronas station event celebrating the Jalur Gemilang kit handover ceremony and the launch of the ‘Love Local’ campaign.

Armizan, who also serves as Papar MP, emphasized KPDN’s role in ensuring the adequate supply of petrol and diesel while maintaining accessibility to targeted groups. Previously, media reports indicated that the Bumiputera Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (Bumipeda) and the Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) had advocated for a review of the profit margins under APM and the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR).

In celebration of National Day and Malaysia Day this year, Armizan highlighted that KPDN is supporting the Fly the Jalur Gemilang campaign at all 4,320 Petronas stations nationwide as part of the ‘1 Rumah 1 Jalur Gemilang’ (1R1JG) initiative. Additionally, Petronas is launching its Love Local campaign from August 25 to September 30, in alignment with KPDN’s Buy Malaysian Products initiative, which aims to promote goods produced by local entrepreneurs.

Armizan acknowledged Petronas’ dedication to advancing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) by offering local products at over 850 Kedai Mesra outlets nationwide, including 50 in Sabah. He noted that Kedai Mesra currently has 1,842 local product suppliers, with sales of MSME products across its network exceeding RM150 million annually.