SHAH ALAM: Serious violations involving illegally imported tyres were uncovered in Ops Grip raids at three tyre outlets here.
The operation was carried out with representatives from eight major tyre companies, alongside enforcement agencies and the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Offences included sales through unauthorised distributors, tyres meant for the European market diverted to Malaysia, falsified manufacturing dates, and tampered labels to hide origins.
Managing director of Michelin Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Florentin Odenwald said labels had been tampered with.
“We only import tyres manufactured in Thailand as they are specially formulated for local road and climate conditions,” he said, Bernama reported.
Kit Loong Tayaria general manager Richard Quah said his company also found smuggled Pirelli tyres, noting that genuine imports carry a laser-etched marking which was missing on the seized stock.
On Monday, the MACC uncovered tyre smuggling activities and forged import-export documents, believed to have cost the government an estimated RM350mil in lost tax revenue since 2020.
