Phnom Penh Municipal Police chief Sar Thet instructed 14 district police chiefs on Monday to increase law enforcement on people who operate fuel stations and shops selling and refilling gas containers.
Thet made the statement while chairing a meeting to promote and implement measures by the Ministry of Health and Phnom Penh Municipal Hall to inspect karaoke parlours and nightclubs as the venues are under order to transform into restaurants.
“District police chiefs must increase regular training for vendors who are in vulnerable businesses, such as fuel stations and shops selling and refilling gas, especially those that should have extinguishers in case a fire happens,” Thet said.
Phnom Penh municipal deputy police chief Neth Vantha told The Post the instruction is in line with sub-decree 131 on conditions and measures to prevent fires.
“People do not understand or participate in this activity widely. People who are engaged in the business of selling fuel and refilling gas have not yet complied with the law which does not allow businesses to sell risky goods in urban areas,” he said.
Vantha said the relevant departments must implement the law because the sub-decree has already been issued and it is valid to implement if citizens have violated it.
He said in line with the municipal police chief’s instruction, it is necessary to continue to apply the law more widely to vulnerable businesses such as fuel stations and shops selling and refilling gas.
Thet’s instructions, Vantha said, also came after a fire broke out in a house selling gas along Street 63, in Daun Penh district’s Boeng Reang commune, Phnom Penh on Saturday. The fire killed four people and injured five.
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