The Angkatan Koperasi Kebangsaan Malaysia Berhad's (Angkasa) request for the government to exempt the Angkasa Salary Deduction System (SPGA) from the Goods and Services Tax (GST) is still in the negotiation process.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said the process would take some time as the government had to study the matter from various aspects.

It would be announced when everything had been finalised, he told a media conference after opening the Malaysian Cooperative Products and Services Carnival (Maccops)organised by Angkasa here today.

Prior to this, Angkasa president Datuk Abdul Fattah Abdullah, was reported to have said that many civil servants would be affected if GST was to be imposed on SPGA.

In another development, he advised consumers to report to the ministry if there was shortage of RON97 at petrol stations.

He denied the shortage of the fuel was due to hoarding by oil companies following the drop in the world price of crude oil.