Cylinders that maim: 10 injured in 2 months

CAP makes a shocking finding: there is no government agency regulating the production and distribution of LPG cylinders

GEORGE TOWN: Lives are in danger until the government establishes an agency to regulate the production and distribution of cooking gas cylinders, the Penang Consumers Association (CAP) has warned.

CAP president SM Mohamed Idris told reporters today that his association recently found out, to its surprise, that no such agency currently existed.

He said CAP researchers were given the run around by several government departments when they inquired about regulations governing liquefied natural gas (LPG) cylinders.

He noted that there were many agencies linked to the gas industry, but said not even one of them could provide complete and intelligible information.

“Everything is so shady,” he said. “It’s shocking to know that LPG cylinders are not governed by any regulation. This puts the consumer’s life in danger.”

He urged the government to treat the matter with “utmost urgency” and ensure that all gas cylinders and accessories sold in the country were certified safe and consumers were given safety education.

He said safety at the bottling plant and during distribution and use should never be compromised.

According to media reports, Penang alone saw 10 people injured in gas cylinder explosions between October and November in 2012.

CAP conducted a study on the issue after receiving a complaint from a consumer.

The complainant, Md Iqdar Abdul Karim, 62, was at today’s press conference. He said there was a gas cylinder leakage at his home recently. A check revealed that the leak happened because a rubber washer on the cylinder valve was worn out.

Idris said he had many questions to ask the authorities, including the “big question” of what consumers should do in the event of an emergency such as a gas leak or an explosion.

“Almost every household has one or two cylinders in the kitchen,” he said. “Are consumers expected to learn from trial and error?”

He called on the relevant authorities to take the following measures without delay:

• Ensure that information on safety procedures are freely available to the public;

• Make it mandatory for manufacturers to display the expiry dates of every cylinder and its valve, hose and regulator;

• Ensure that all parts, including the rubber O-ring, conform to standards;

• Establish an agency for testing the cylinder and other items;

• Establish a regulating agency for the industry.