Diesel In Question Does Not Belong To Malaysia - Fahmi

KUALA NERUS, April 13 (Bernama) -- Claims that the Malaysian government sent diesel supplies to the Philippines, as circulated on social media, are untrue and stem from a misunderstanding related to shipping logistics movements in Johor waters, said MADANI Government spokesman Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.

Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, said the diesel was not processed by Petronas or any local oil company, but is owned and sold by a Singapore-based company, Vitol.

“Questions arose on social media regarding oil allegedly sent by the Malaysian government to the Philippines. However, explanations by Petronas and the National Economic Action Council (MTEN) confirmed that the oil does not belong to Malaysia. Instead, it was sold by a Singapore-based company, Vitol, and stored at a facility in Johor, in the Tanjung Pelepas area.

“In the context of shipping, vessels in Johor waters are considered to be departing from Malaysia. This led to misunderstanding among some internet users who claimed that the diesel was sent from Malaysia.

“In reality, the oil was not processed by Petronas or any local oil company, but belongs to Vitol and had been sold to parties in the Philippines, with the vessel merely departing from Malaysian waters,” he told reporters at the presentation of appointment letters to the advisory panel chairman of the National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI) here today.

In this regard, Fahmi hopes the information can be clarified to the public to avoid confusion over the issue.

Previously, the MTEN Crisis Management Team confirmed in a statement that 329,000 barrels of diesel recently sent to the Philippines did not originate from Malaysia, contrary to what was reported by several international media outlets.

MTEN also advised the public not to speculate and to always refer to official government sources.

Petronas, in a separate statement, also denied involvement in the shipment of about 329,000 barrels or 52.311 million litres of diesel to the neighbouring country.

The national oil company stressed that it has never entered into any agreement with any party in the Philippines regarding the diesel supply.

Earlier, Philippine media reported that about 329,000 barrels or 52.311 million litres of diesel from Malaysia were sent to the country to boost its fuel supply amid global market uncertainties.

According to the report, the shipment was part of efforts by the Philippine government to strengthen domestic supply, following a delivery of 142,000 barrels or 22.578 million litres from Japan on March 26.

-- BERNAMA