PETALING JAYA, Dec 13 — Retailers are preying on the ignorance of consumers about the ceiling price for cooking gas by overcharging and forcing buyers to pay extra for delivery. 

Checks by Malay Mail revealed many sundry shops and cooking gas dealers were charging between RM24 and RM29 for 12kg tank and RM28 to RM35 for 14kg tank. 

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has set the ceiling price at RM22.80 (12kg tank) and RM26.60 for (14kg tank). 

While some blatantly sold them above the ceiling price, many dealers claimed the additional cost was for delivery charges and they varied according to location.

Consumers were not aware about the ceiling rates and assumed the charges were set by  producers or retailers. 

Ampang Housewife Sakeenah Nasser, 27, said she normally paid RM24 without extra delivery charge and without any questions asked.  She was not aware there was a ceiling price.

Zainal Azhar Ahmad, who has been in the oil and gas industry, said more could be done to inform the public of the rates set by the government for cooking gas and other fuels. 

“Each time an announcement is made on automotive fuel, an update on cooking gas should be provided too,” he said.

Restaurant owner Rosnani Abdul Manaf, 53, said as a business operator, she did not have an issue with dealers as they have been charging RM27 per 14kg tank consistently for many years.

But as a consumer, she was not happy with sundry shops that charge up to RM29 for a 12kg tank.
“The dealers are fine. It’s those small sundry shops who take advantage of consumers and even go beyond RM30 per tank,” she said.

Hawker stall owner Hiew Ay Jiuan, 46, finds it difficult to get cooking gas delivered to her home.
“My stall is in Desa Jaya but I live in  Maluri and there are no shops selling cooking gas nearby, so I have to get it from here. 

“It’s not a problem most of the time because I get the tanks delivered to my shop and I take it home myself, but if I had to rely on delivery, I would have to pay almost RM29, including delivery fees.”

A cooking gas retailer, who asked not to be named, said he knew of sundry shops that hiked up “delivery charges” even more when a customer lived in apartments.

“Usually, if an apartment has a lift, there is a flat rate of between RM1 and RM3. But if it does not have a functioning lift, it would cost RM1 to RM2 per floor,” he said.

The situation is pretty much the same in Penang where the price of cooking gas delivery depends on the location of the customer. 

A sundry shop in Batu Maung, on the southern part of the island, charges RM27.80 for each 12kg tank and RM31 for the 14kg tank.

“There is, however, a surplus charge of RM1 for every floor of a walk-up apartment but I will only charge RM1 if the apartment has an elevator,” proprietor A.K. Thanasekaran said, when contacted by phone.

Another sundry shop in Sungai Ara charged more. Its proprietor, K.C. Chong, said he had been selling the 12kg tank for RM30 and 14kg tank for RM34.

Chong also applies the RM1 “ruling” for those staying in walk-up flats.

“We add RM1 for every floor that the buyer stays on. The money is given to my delivery staff as they are the ones who carry the gas cylinder,” he said.

In Jelutong, the charges are slightly cheaper, with each 12kg tank costing RM26, and RM30 for the 14kg tanks.