Sarawak: Effective enforcement by relevant agencies is essential to prevent misuse of government fuel subsidies and curb supply leakages, said Sarawak Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah. He emphasized the importance of the recently announced integrated Ops Tiris 4.0 special task force for Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, which aims to strengthen the implementation of price controls and subsidies.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim highlighted that rising fuel prices could trigger a chain reaction leading to increased energy costs and subsequently higher prices of other goods. He stressed the importance of proper monitoring through enforcement units to ensure the effectiveness of government initiatives. While guidelines introduced by the Federal government are beneficial, enforcement remains crucial for their successful implementation.

The minister underscored the significance of enhancing enforcement to prevent fuel leakages in Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan, ensuring that subsidies genuinely benefit the people. He warned that price disparities between Malaysia and neighboring countries could lead to fuel smuggling if border controls are inadequate. Cheaper fuel prices locally might tempt smuggling activities, which could deplete local supply and defeat the purpose of subsidies.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof announced the government's decision to establish the special task force to improve regulation of ship-to-ship fuel transfers, or bunkering. The task force will be co-chaired by the Federal Secretary and State Secretary, with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) at the state level acting as the secretariat.