Armizan: Ministry steps up monitoring to curb fuel smuggling

KUALA LUMPUR (March 10): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will step up monitoring and enforcement at the country’s borders to curb fuel smuggling following the rise in global oil prices due to the conflict in West Asia.

Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said KPDN will intensify the implementation of Ops Tiris to ensure fuel supplies are not smuggled out to neighbouring countries.

“Global oil prices have risen significantly now, exceeding US$100 (RM393) per barrel. Therefore, the risk of smuggling will remain as industrial prices will increase in line with market prices.

“Besides that, when compared with fuel prices in neighbouring countries that do not have subsidies like we do, there is a fairly high tendency for smuggling to occur. Therefore, we will strengthen our enforcement,” he said.

He said this at a press conference on the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme for Hari Raya and the Rahmah Madani Sales Programme for Aidilfitri here.

Tensions in West Asia have escalated since Feb 28 following attacks by Israel and the United States on Iran, which were followed by retaliatory strikes by Tehran against US interests in Gulf countries.

Earlier, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the government would do its utmost to maintain the price of RON95 at RM1.99 per litre so that it does not burden the people.

Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said that although oil prices have reportedly risen in the global market, the situation in the country remains under control with the low RON95 price maintained through targeted subsidies. — Bernama