FUEL distribution practices for Pertalite in Pematangsiantar city\nhave come under intense scrutiny. A stark contradiction has emerged\nbetween strict enforcement of barcode requirements for ordinary\nmotorists and the rampant sale of bottled Pertalite fuel sold on\nroadsides, allegedly sourced from illegal practices at public petrol\nstations.<\/p>\n
Jon Roi Tua Purba, Chairman of the Pematangsiantar Branch Council of\nthe Young Christian Movement Organisation of Indonesia (DPC GAMKI),\nraised these concerns with Media Indonesia on Wednesday (11 March).<\/p>\n
The alarm was sounded following discoveries along the main roads of\nPematangsiantar city. \u201cOn one hand, petrol stations have begun enforcing\nstrict barcode requirements for every Pertalite purchase. On the other\nhand, supplies of Pertalite for bottle retailers are flooding the\nroadside,\u201d said the alumnus of UGM\u2019s Masters in Public\nAdministration.<\/p>\n
A resident recounted their bitter experience attempting to purchase\nRp80,000 worth of Pertalite for operational needs at a petrol station.\nStaff refused service, citing a new mandatory barcode rule that had been\nin effect for the past three days.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is highly ironic. Those buying for operational needs of just tens\nof thousands of rupiah are obstructed for lacking a barcode, whilst\nbottled Pertalite is rife along the main roads. This warrants\ninvestigation into its source \u2014 surely it stems from collusion between\npetrol station staff and jerrycan traders,\u201d Jon Roi said firmly.<\/p>\n
Evidence suggests large-scale fuel filling using jerrycans occurring\nat specific times \u2014 late night and dawn \u2014 allegedly without proper\nbarcode procedures and involving cooperation from corrupt petrol station\npersonnel.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis practice is believed to be the primary cause of fuel shortages\nand strict rationing during the day, as fuel stocks have been illegally\nallocated to major retailers or fuel trafficking networks,\u201d he\nadded.<\/p>\n
Jon Roi described this as a serious violation of the constitution and\napplicable regulations, specifically Law No.\u00a022 of 2001 on Oil and\nNatural Gas. Article 55 states that anyone who misuses the\ntransportation and\/or trade of government-subsidised fuel faces\nimprisonment of up to six years and fines up to Rp60 billion.<\/p>\n
The GAMKI chairman urged Pertamina Patra Niaga Regional Sumbagut and\nlaw enforcement authorities (Pematangsiantar Police) to conduct raids\nand audits of petrol station CCTV systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have identified these problematic petrol stations. If improper\npractices continue, we will report them to authorities. The barcode\nregulation must not become a weapon to suppress ordinary citizens whilst\nthe back doors of petrol stations remain wide open for fuel trafficking\nnetworks,\u201d Jon Roi said.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/petrol-purchases-without-barcode-made-difficult-but-not-those-using-jerrycans-1773244372", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }