PUTRAJAYA, March 1 (Bernama) — The six-month long Ops Tiris from today until Aug 31 aims to ensure the implementation of the diesel subsidy does not suffer from leakages and reaches the eligible parties.

Ops Tiris was launched at today’s first meeting of the task force that was set up by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) together with various agencies to address the issue of diesel subsidy leakages of almost RM10 billion.

Subsidised diesel is sold to petrol stations at a controlled price of RM2.15 per litre.

“The cheap price and easy supply are the main factors for the increase in demand from the industry, either for domestic use or for export.

“Our geographical location with neighbouring countries also affects the activities of misappropriating subsidised diesel,” he said in a statement today.

Azman said two committees were also established for the implementation of Ops Tiris, namely the Steering Committee (JKP) that he chairs for policy setting.

“The Technical Committee (JKT), which involves the implementation of operations, is chaired by KPDN director-general Datuk Azman Adam,” he said.

He said among the agencies involved are the Finance Ministry, Home Ministry, Defence Ministry, Agriculture and Food Security Ministry, Royal Malaysian Customs Department, Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysia Police.

Azman said the KPDN would always empower enforcement at all levels, areas and locations including islands, borders, industrial or export areas, cities and rural areas.

Based on KPDN enforcement statistics from 2019 to January, he said a total of 3,085 cases were detected by the KPDN Enforcement Division for various offences under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 involving controlled items with a seized value of RM82.56 million.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, in tabling Budget 2023 at the Dewan Rakyat on Friday (Feb 24), said that there were leakages in the implementation of diesel subsidies with an estimate of almost RM10 billion worth of diesel subsidies misappropriated last year.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency