KUALA LUMPUR – The Petrol Dealers Association of Malaysia (PDAM) has urged the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) to take firm action against any petrol station operators found to be spreading misinformation or operating outside established guidelines, amid rising public concern over alleged fuel shortages.
A PDAM spokesperson told Scoop that regulatory intervention is necessary if any party is found to be contributing to confusion in the market, particularly through inaccurate or misleading communication regarding fuel supply.
“If there are irregularities or deliberate miscommunication, then KPDN should step in and investigate. Action can be taken against any party found to be contributing to misinformation, as this affects public trust and industry stability,” the representative said.
The association stressed that petrol station operators must not create or amplify perceptions of supply disruption when no systemic issue exists, warning that such actions could damage confidence in the industry.
“We believe that if there are any parties contributing to unclear messaging or creating unnecessary panic at station level, they should not be doing so. Petrol station operators do not have the authority to shape or speculate on supply conditions in a way that misleads the public,” the representative said.
“Any actions that create the impression of shortages when supply is actually stable will reflect badly on the entire industry. It gives the wrong perception to consumers and unnecessarily undermines confidence in the sector,” the representative added.
The clarification comes amid viral claims on social media suggesting temporary closures of petrol stations due to alleged fuel shortages and price fluctuations.
The PDAM representative said there is no evidence of a nationwide supply disruption, adding that major oil companies such as Petronas and Shell Malaysia have not indicated any structural issues in their supply chains.
“There is still no clear understanding of what is actually happening. From what we have observed, Petronas does not appear to have any supply issues at all. As for Shell, when we spoke to several dealers, they were unable to identify any concrete problem within the supply chain,” the representative said.
The statement comes as global energy markets remain volatile following escalating tensions in the Middle East. The United States and Israel launched large-scale airstrikes against Iran on February 28, prompting retaliatory strikes by Iran on US bases and allied positions.
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global oil shipping route, has heightened fears of supply disruptions and inflationary pressures worldwide.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has since assured Malaysians that the country has sufficient oil and gas reserves to last until at least May.
Meanwhile, Shell Malaysia said it is working to restore and maintain fuel supply across its nationwide retail network following reports of intermittent shortages at selected stations.
“We are closely monitoring what is a very dynamic situation and are prioritising efforts to support fuel supply continuity within our retail network, in line with the government’s recent announcement,” Shell Malaysia was quoted as saying by The Edge.
The company did not disclose the scale of the disruption but said it is working to minimise inconvenience to customers.
KPDN in Penang reportedly received one complaint involving a Shell station experiencing a shortage of RON95 petrol, while five other stations in the state reported diesel shortages, according to The Star.
Earlier, the Finance Ministry announced that diesel prices in Peninsular Malaysia rose to a record RM6.72, while RON97 increased by 40 sen to RM5.35 on April 8.
The prices are based on weekly averages and do not yet reflect the latest developments in global oil markets.
Petrol station operators have also noted challenges in managing working capital for fuel replenishment amid rising unsubsidised fuel costs, while subsidised RON95 remains priced at RM1.99 per litre.
At the same time, Brent crude was last traded at around US$98 (RM390) per barrel today, as markets reacted to ongoing uncertainty over a proposed US-Iran ceasefire. – April 11, 2026