KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 125,690 inspections were conducted nationwide under Op Tiris Bersepadu by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry between March 16 and Oct 20 this year.
Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said the inspections uncovered 1,542 cases involving the misappropriation of controlled goods, including diesel, petrol and liquefied petroleum gas.
She said the operation also resulted in 514 arrests and seizures worth RM59.9 million.
"At the land borders, 357 cases were recorded, with seizures valued at RM10.77 million. At sea, 275 cases were recorded, with seizures valued at RM12.29 million," she said in reply to Datuk Seri Mohmed Puzi Sh Ali (BN-Pekan).
Puzi had asked about the number of cases, the value of leakages, seizures and arrests recorded under Op Tiris Bersepadu, particularly in border areas.
Fuziah said that as of Oct 14, a total of 23 cases had been brought to court.
"Another 248 cases were compounded, with fines totalling RM290,000, while the total value of compounds imposed amounted to RM950,900.
"Investigations into the remaining cases are ongoing," she said.
Op Tiris involves the ministry and eight other agencies, with enforcement activities carried out on land, along the borders and at sea.
On land, the ministry is responsible for enforcement, in collaboration with the police.
At the borders, the agencies involved are the Armed forces, the General Operations Force and the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency.
At sea, enforcement is carried out by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency and the Marine Police.
Meanwhile, Fuziah said weaknesses in controlling smuggling stemmed from the previous blanket subsidy policy, before the government shifted to targeted subsidies, including diesel subsidies under the Subsidised Diesel Control System.
"These loopholes made it easier for fuel leakage to occur. Furthermore, the market prices of controlled goods in neighbouring countries are higher than the subsidised prices here.
"By shifting from blanket to targeted subsidies and combining this with integrated enforcement operations, we have been able to curb such leakage," she said.
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