By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Feb 9: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Costs of Living (KPDN) has recorded 168 cases of misappropriation and smuggling of subsidised diesel amounting to RM6.5 million, confiscated under ‘Op Tiris’ in Sarawak last year.
KPDN Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said of the total cases, 62 per cent were cases handed over by the police including the General Operations Force (PGA) and marine police.
“Therefore, we are discussing with the Sarawak police to further strengthen the cooperation between KPDN and the police in combating misappropriation and smuggling of subsidised diesel.
“Among the things we discussed earlier include how we can streamline the standard operating procedures (SOP) for case handover so that any enforcement agency that finds any violation of the law related to subsidised diesel, can submit the case immediately with the evidence and details of the case, to allow KPDN to take further action.
“We hope that by strengthening this aspect of enforcement, we will be able to deal more effectively with the issue of diesel leakages in Sabah and Sarawak,” he told reporters during Jualan Rahmah programme held at Mydin Bandar Baru Samariang here today.
He further said Op Tiris, which was initially a KPDN operation to curb subsidised diesel misappropriation and smuggling, will be improved this year to involve the whole of government approach.
“We have decided that this year, Op Tiris will be continued as an integration operation not only focusing on subsidised diesel alone but also on other controlled items such as sugar, cooking oil packets, RON95 petrol, liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and so on,” he added.
Earlier today, Armizan met with Sarawak Commissioner of Police Dato Mancha Ata to deliberate on the issue of misappropriation and smuggling of subsidised diesel in the State.
Also present during the Jualan Rahmah programme were Minister of Women, Family and Community Development-cum-Santubong MP Dato Sri Nancy Shukri; KPDN secretary-general Dato Seri Mohd Sayuthi Bakar and KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin. — DayakDaily
