KUALA LUMPUR: Beginning next year, the government will reclaim the value of misappropriated subsidised goods from smuggling syndicates as part of efforts to address national losses.
The initiative is among the proposed enhancements to strengthen Ops Tiris, agreed upon during a recent meeting chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam told Buletin TV3 that the initiative would be carried out in collaboration with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB), Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), and the National Financial Crime Prevention Centre (NFCC).
"One of our enforcement focuses for next year includes imposing stricter and harsher penalties. For instance, those involved in misappropriation will have their licences suspended and ultimately revoked. Secondly, we will likely initiate recovery measures. For example, if the government incurs losses, agencies like IRB, MACC, and NFCC will work together to recover the losses. We will take action to reclaim the value of the losses from those who have committed these offences," he said in an interview with Berita Harian and TV3 recently.
He added that several improvements are being planned to ensure the government's efforts help reduce financial leakages. "We are not stopping or blocking subsidies, nor have we halted them. However, subsidies must be targeted towards those who are truly eligible and in need. This is also to prevent national funds from leaking and to improve the government's fiscal position. Funds saved from curbing misappropriation can be allocated to programmes that benefit the people," he said.
Ops Tiris 3.0, launched nationwide on Jan 1, recorded RM90.8 million worth of confiscated controlled and subsidised goods as of last Monday. RON95 petrol topped the list with 933 cases, followed by diesel (734 cases), cooking oil (472 cases), sugar (241 cases), LPG (197 cases), and wheat flour (99 cases).
A total of 616 arrests were made during the same period, involving 490 locals, two permanent residents, and 124 foreign nationals.