KUALA LUMPUR: New highways and mushrooming neighbourhoods are reshaping Malaysia’s retail fuel landscape, spurring a race among petrol station operators to stake their ground.
Riding on this momentum, Petron Malaysia Refining & Marketing Bhd plans to open 40 to 50 new stations nationwide by year-end, part of a strategy to cement its footprint in high-growth areas.
General manager Mohd Nizam Mansor said half of the target is already under construction and expected to be completed by the end of next month, subject to land approval and project schedules.
“Malaysia is a continuously growing market. There are still many new areas, including highways and residential neighbourhoods, that do not yet have our petrol stations.
“With this network expansion, Petron will be able to broaden its reach and deliver more value to consumers,” he said at a media session held in conjunction with the launch of Petron’s PASTI OK initiative.
Petron, a Philippines-based petroleum company, currently operates 816 petrol stations across Malaysia, including in Sabah and Sarawak.
To complement its expansion, the company introduced the PASTI OK campaign, aimed at improving customer experience at its stations.
Mohd Nizam said Petron aims to position its stations as service hubs, offering clean facilities and attentive customer care in addition to fuel.
“Our stations are equipped with clean and well-kept facilities such as restrooms and prayer rooms, as well as a variety of food and beverage options.
“The PASTI OK campaign reflects our commitment to accessibility, hospitality, and service excellence.
“Our goal is to ensure that every visit becomes a pleasant experience for everyone, at all times, because to us, every customer is truly valuable,” he said.
As a symbol of inclusivity, the campaign also introduces the official PASTI OK sign language, endorsed by the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf, to facilitate communication with hearing-impaired customers.
In addition, the company launched the Petron PASTI OK Sweep, a shopping sweep challenge at its Treats convenience stores from Sept 9 to Nov 11, running concurrently with the Petron Hypermarket Sweep program.
With the combination of network expansion and brand strengthening through PASTI OK, Petron is confident it can remain competitive in the retail fuel market while maintaining its position as a preferred choice for consumers.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd
