Intensified operation leads to RM2mil diesel seizure
PETALING JAYA: Anyone abusing diesel subsidies under the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme will find themselves facing swift and firm legal action, including the suspension and revocation of fleet card approvals.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said the decision was agreed upon at a meeting of the High-Level Inter-Agency Coordination Committee on Combating Leakage and Smuggling (JTPAP), which he chaired at the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry in Putrajaya yesterday.
He said the measure is aimed at ensuring the sustainability and stability of the nation’s energy supply.
“The global energy crisis resulting from the West Asian conflict has increased the risk of misappropriation and smuggling of controlled goods, particularly diesel and petrol,” he said during a briefing on the global energy crisis yesterday.
Fleet cards under the Subsidised Diesel Control Scheme (SKDS) will be expanded to Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan as part of tighter enforcement measures to curb leakages and smuggling of fuel.
Fadillah, who is also the Energy Transition and Water Transformation Minister, said the expansion for land freight transport in the two states and Federal Territory were among key measures agreed upon by the committee.
“The government will expand the SKDS using fleet cards for the land transport sector in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan,” he said.
The move comes amid intensified enforcement under Op Tiris 4.0 (Integrated), which began on March 16.
Fadillah said authorities conducted 8,148 inspections between March 16 and April 5, resulting in 155 cases involving controlled goods.
Of these, 60 cases involved diesel, with seizures valued at RM2,189,121.
“Another 47 cases were linked to RON95 petrol, with seizures worth RM51,299, while 21 cases involved liquefied petroleum gas, amounting to RM37,822,” he said.
Fadillah added that 27 cases involved other controlled goods, including cooking oil, sugar and wheat flour.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the government wants to ensure supply stability as well as proper distribution.
“The government’s main focus is not only to ensure supply stability but also to take immediate steps to tighten control and monitoring of distribution,” he said.
“The authorities will also increase and strengthen monitoring over bunkering activities,” he added.
He said that the integrated Op Tiris 4.0 enforcement involves close coordination among multiple agencies to ensure stricter monitoring, particularly amid global uncertainties affecting fuel supplies.
Fadillah also announced that integrated Op Tiris 4.0 task forces under JTPAP will be formed in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.
The task forces will jointly be chaired by the Federal Secretary and the respective State Secretaries.
The state-level Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will serve as secretariat, with relevant state agencies also involved.
Fadillah said several strategic recommendations from the meeting would also be submitted to the National Economic Action Council to ensure the continued stability of the country’s energy supply amid geopolitical tensions.
“The government will not let the people be affected by supply disruptions.
“We have strengthened our preparedness through strategic and integrated measures to ensure that the security of supply in the local market remains under control,” he said.
On Sunday, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the monthly allocation for the SKDS rose to an estimated RM2.2bil in March – nearly three times higher than the previously reported RM700mil – due to escalating global diesel prices.
