KOTA BARU: Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) plans to install closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras at about 20 petrol stations along the state's Malaysia-Thailand border area this year.
State KPDN director Azman Ismail said the cameras would be placed at petrol stations believed to be frequented by fuel smugglers.
He said the state KPDN is preparing the draft for the project and once completed, it would be handed over to its headquarters for approval.
"In Kelantan, we have 48 petrol stations within a 20-kilometre radius from the border.
"For monitoring purposes, we plan to install CCTVs at the selected stations, particularly in Rantau Panjang, Pasir Mas and Tumpat.
"This is aimed at preventing repeated fuel purchases that are suspected to be for smuggling. As a start, we will install around 20 petrol stations with CCTVs.
"The first phase of the installation will begin this year," he told a press conference after launching the state-level consumer fashion design competition here today.
Azman said with the installation of the cameras, KPDN can conduct continuous monitoring and take action easily if smuggling occurs.
"With these CCTV cameras, KPDN officers can monitor the activities at the petrol stations from their office.
"A majority of oil companies in the state have expressed support for this plan," he added.
On June 24, it was reported that diesel sales at the border had shown a 40 per cent decrease since the government announced the floating of the diesel subsidy price. This confirms that diesel smuggling activities into neighbouring countries had existed previously.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan was quoted as saying that since the subsidy rationalisation took effect on June 10, retail diesel sales at petrol stations dropped by nearly eight million litres a day, or 30 per cent, within just a week.