Caltex and Petron have begun making goodwill payments to motorists who reported vehicle damage after filling up with RON95 petrol, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Armizan Mohd Ali said.
Armizan told the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday that the payments were not admissions of liability or wrongdoing by the two companies, and that the cause of the suspected contamination had yet to be established. His ministry has been investigating complaints that RON95 petrol was mixed with water, damaging vehicles in several areas.
He said motorists must submit complaints with valid supporting documents to qualify, and that the payments were subject to conditions set by the companies. Those who feel the payments are not enough can lodge a complaint with the ministry, take civil action or bring their case to the Consumer Claims Tribunal.
Armizan said the complaints received since Oct 3 appeared to involve certain Caltex and Petron stations, particularly in Kedah and Penang, and that the problem seemed to involve petrol supplied during a particular period.
Of the 262 petrol samples collected nationwide, preliminary tests on 43 found water content below 0.05%, the lowest level that can be reported. The remaining samples are still being tested for water and other foreign substances.
He said several petrol stations remained closed following the complaints, and that the government was studying fuel quality testing and monitoring practices in Singapore, the UK and Australia to improve oversight of petrol supplies in Malaysia. He was replying to Abdul Latiff Abdul Rahman (PN-Kuala Krai).