The local retail price of fuel can only be reduced if the average world crude oil price for October falls below US$104 a barrel, Domestic Trade and onsumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad said today.

“It depends on the world fuel price. The downward trend has to be continuous and the average price must be below US$104 a barrel,” he said when asked whether the governemnt proposed to further reduce the retail price of petrol.

He was speaking to reporters at the Aidilfitri Open House of the prime minister and Muslim cabinet ministers at the Putra World Trade Centre here.

On Sept 24 the government announced a 10 sen reduction in the fuel price to RM2.45 and RM2.40 a litre respectively for petrol and diesel.

On rumours that petrol stations in the city were facing a shortage of supply, he said the fuel supply depended on the station operators.
“Oil is a controlled item. So they (station operators) must be careful when talking about a fuel shortage or about not getting adequate supply. We will investigate to find out who is involved,” he said.