KUALA LUMPUR: Motorists throughout the country are making a beeline to petrol stations, jam-packing major roads in cities and towns in a mad rush for fuel before the midnight deadline for the new fuel price takes effect.
In the national capital, thousands of cars were moving bumper-to-bumper as they inched towards petrol pumps for the last drop of "cheap" fuel before the price increased to RM2.70 per litre for petrol and RM2.58 per litre for diesel at the stroke of midnight.
In Kuala Lumpur, a massive traffic jam began to build up in the capital city as soon as the new prices were announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
In just minutes after the announcement, petrol stations here were already "seized" by motorists who wanted to fill up the tanks full.
A check by Bernama showed that Jalan Kuching, Middle Ring Road II, Jalan Tun Razak, Jalan Bangsar, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Cheras and Ampang were among the roads packed with thousands of cars.
A Shell petrol station manager in Mile 5, Gombak, Abdul Selamat, 45, said he was shocked to see hundreds of cars rushing to the station.
"This has not happened since 1998. We have asked for replenishment," he said when met.
In several roads, police had to be deployed to keep the traffic in order.
There were also cars that run out of fuel because of the long wait on the road.
A petrol station in Taman Melawati had to be closed early because it had run out of supply.
Similar situation also occurred in Penang barely an hour after the announcement.
Among the roads worst affected by the jam were Jalan Perak, Jalan Datuk Keramat, Jalan Argyll and Jalan Anson.
Workers at petrol pumps, who had not heard of the price increase, were puzzled to see hundreds of cars making their way into the stations.
Many of the motorists said they were shocked to learn about the new fuel prices and expressed the hope that there would be no more of those in the near future.
In Labuan, all roads leading to the town were jam-packed since 5pm as motorists from outlying areas rushed to the petrol pumps to fill up their tank before the midnight deadline.
The traffic only cleared up when the new fuel prices kicked in.
Bernama
05/06/08
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