A Sarawak MP has urged the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs to set up a task force that includes the police and army to tackle the profiteering activities that have led to acute diesel shortage throughout the country.

"Effort have to encompass two main areas, beefing up the enforcement and setting up of a mechanism to tackle the problem," Santubong MP Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar told malaysiakini .

According to Junaidi, the problem arises from glaring differences between subsidised and non-subsidised diesel.

"I was told by the association of lorry drivers in a recent dialogue that instead of reaching fuelling station, the diesel were being diverted to plantation and logging industry by people who want to make quick money thus causing shortage," he revealed.

Junaidi, who is also chairperson of Sarawak Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board (SCVLB), said though the problem is an open secret, the ministry MDTCA is not having the required machinery to solve the problem.

"The figure involved is not millions, but billions of ringgit and the victims are small time players who are at the mercy of big time players," he said.

Junaidi said the problem is much more complicated than what is being perceived by the public and heavier sentences should be introduced as deterrent or else the benefactor of the subsidy would not be able to enjoy their rights.

'Let a capable person take over'

Meanwhile, other politicians and NGOs in Sarawak have renewed their call for Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shafie Apdal to step down.

"If he is unable to solve the diesel problem, why not let someone more capable take over," suggested Lily Yong, the state assemblyperson for Padungan.

Yong stressed that Sarawakians have been very patient over the issue but "it is unfortunate that Shafie is not paying attention to the problem".

Sharing Yong's views was president of the Consumer Association of Sarawak (CAS) Bujang Ulis who said that Shafie should resign immediately.

"It saddens me to see some ministers are not taking their ministerial responsibilities seriously. They prefer to enjoy playing golf and pursue other recreational activities when issues of public importance are not attended to," said Bujang who is a former deputy education minister.

The call for Shafie's resignation was first made by Lee Ka Kiong, secretary of Sarawak Hired Lorries Association on Saturday.

Several state ministers have also voiced their disappointment over the persisting problem. The Sarawak Cabinet will meet on Thursday to discuss the issue.

Earlier today in Parliament, the Speaker rejected an emergency motion by Chong Chieng Jen (DAP-Bandar Kuching) to debate the diesel shortage.

JIMMY TEOH is malaysiakini 's Sarawak-based stringer.