KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Energy Corporation Sdn Bhd (SEC) clarified that the gas supply irregularity experienced was due to an upstream or offshore interruption beyond SEC’s control, and there is no direct link between the gas supplied by SEC and the damage allegedly sustained by Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Berhad’s (KTC) equipment.
In a statement, SEC said its gas distribution system remained within safe operating parameters at all times.
The clarification follows a recent statement by KTC, which attributed its production disruption and product disposal to a gas supply failure by SEC.
“Following the incident, SEC conducted two joint inspections with KTC’s technical team and equipment supplier. The inspections revealed that the actual issue originated from multiple leaks within KTC’s own oven system. SEC’s sales station, pressure regulator, and pressure relief valve (PRV) were found to be functioning properly with stable pressure settings.
“SEC’s temporary isolation was a standard preventive safety measure triggered upon early suspicion of a leak, and was promptly followed by joint site verifications. We reiterate that SEC has not received any validated technical findings linking machinery damage to the integrity of our gas supply.
“While we respect KTC’s internal decision to dispose of its products, we reaffirm that SEC continues to uphold strict safety and quality standards, and remains committed to supporting all customers with transparency and professionalism,” said the statement.
In a separate statement earlier, KTC stated that the company has taken decisive action to safeguard public health following a recent gas supply interruption from SEC at Kota Kinabalu Industrial Park (KKIP).
KTC claimed the disruption resulted in irregular gas pressure that jammed and damaged key machinery at the facility. This has led to the disposal of bread products valued at approximately RM300,000.
Although preliminary assessments suggest that the affected food items may still be safe for consumption, KTC is upholding its strict food safety standards by choosing to discard the entire affected batch.
“The instruction came directly from our Executive Director, Datuk Dexter Lau, to take immediate action and ensure no potentially compromised products reach consumers,” said Normala Othman, General Manager of Gardenia Bakeries (East Malaysia).
“Consumer safety is our top priority,” Normala emphasised.
“While this decision has a significant business impact, it is a necessary step to maintain the integrity, quality and safety of our products. We have chosen to dispose of all impacted products and raw materials, and we will restart production afresh to ensure the highest standards are met.”
She added, “We kindly seek the understanding and support of our loyal consumers during this period. Our team is working diligently to resolve the issue and we expect to resume operations and supply within the next two days.”
“At KTC, food safety is non-negotiable,” Normala assured.
“Whatever business or products we undertake, we hold them to the same high standards. When the public sees a product from KTC, they can trust that it is safe and produced with the utmost care.”
