PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will launch Ops Gasak on May 1 to curb the misappropriation of cooking gas subsidies.
Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the operation, under the 'Kita Gempur' initiative, aims to prevent subsidised cooking gas from being wrongfully used by unqualified industries or smuggled overseas.
"Some industries not eligible for the subsidies are obtaining gas through decanting, which involves transferring gas from subsidised cylinders to industrial cylinders.
"We want these parties to understand that such subsidies are meant to benefit the people and should not be exploited for private gain," he told a press conference after a ministry event here on Friday (April 18).
He also assured that Ops Gasak would address public complaints concerning underfilled gas cylinders.
Armizan emphasised that the leakage of cooking gas subsidies must be addressed urgently due to its significant financial implications for the government.
"The government allocates RM3bil annually (for this subsidy). If we don't resolve this issue, we are concerned that the financial implications will exceed RM4bil in the coming years," he said.
He added that Ops Gasak would be carried out in coordination with other enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, the police and the Customs Department.
"We also seek the cooperation of the public. Please provide information through the available platforms so that we can work together to stop those profiting from the misappropriation of subsidies," he said.
Meanwhile, Armizan reported that the ministry had conducted 70,906 inspections through Ops Pantau in conjunction with Hari Raya Aidilfitri from March 2 to 30.
He said that 390 cases were recorded, with the main violations being failure to display price tags and the use of uncertified or expired weighing scales. - Bernama
