PASIR MAS: Six main modus operandi were identified behind leakages of controlled goods, including petrol and diesel, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said this was revealed at the Inter-Agency Enforcement Coordination High-Level Committee (JTPAP) meeting on March 11, which was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
“They include manipulation by licence holders of scheduled controlled goods, as well as diversion by third parties who receive supplies but fail to channel them to the intended recipients.
“We are also monitoring bunkering activities due to misconduct and the reprocessing of petroleum products in national waters,” he told reporters after visiting a petrol station and illegal depots along the Rantau Panjang border yesterday.
Armizan added that falsification of documents in terms of purchase volumes and hoarding of supplies before being sold in the black market were also tactics used by some unscrupulous parties.
This included selling the controlled goods to industrial sectors at higher prices, he said.
“Firm measures to tighten control and monitoring of distribution are crucial to curb leakages, whether in the form of smuggling, misappropriation or hoarding,” he said, Bernama reported.
Besides enforcement, Armizan said strengthening controls would also involve daily monitoring through a distribution chain database dashboard covering the entire supply chain.
He added that the supply chain covered refineries to retail levels, including all storage facilities, petrol stations and industrial users.
Armizan added that Fadillah would chair the second JTPAP tomorrow, where updates on enforcement against abuse of controlled goods would be presented.
“The ministry welcomes public cooperation and participation, including in channelling relevant information.
“However, the public is reminded to act responsibly when sharing information and to refrain from spreading unverified news that could trigger panic and public concern,” he said.
