Kerosene peddlers attack quota

PEKANBARU, Riau: Dozens of kerosene peddlers held a rally in front of Pekanbaru mayoralty on Wednesday, claiming their businesses are being crippled by a new quota.

A new regulation requires anyone buying kerosene to show a family card, and limits purchases to 40 liters.

The peddlers, who demonstrated outside the building with empty jerrycans and carts, say they are being forced out of work.

Syamsul Bahri, one of the peddlers, said that due to the regulation the 40-liter quota was much too low.

"Before the regulation was applied, we could easily buy a drum of kerosene. But now we cannot easily get it as we're required to show our family cards," he said.

"We need much more for our business," he said.

A family card, which records the identity of a person and members of their family, is issued by subdistrict offices. --Antara