ONCE TASK FORCE LAUNCHED... NO MORE WARNING FOR DIESEL SMUGGLING

No Choice... No Compromise... No MoreWarning... Your licence will be revoked!

It is a serious warning and a note from The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) secretary-general, Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad that it is declaring war against diesel smuggling syndicates as reported here;

PUTRAJAYA, March 7 (Bernama) -- The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry will revoke and suspend the operating licence of kiosks involved in the smuggling of subsidised diesel and petrol.
Its secretary-general, Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said the government lost about RM1.2 billion annually due to smuggling of diesel and petrol abroad or sale to the industrial sector.
"We will not compromise and will suspend or revoke their (kiosk) operating licences. This is the final warning. The government gives subsidised diesel and petrol to reduce the people's burden and not to be smuggled abroad or sold to industries," he told a press conference, here today.
A large scale integrated operation will be launched later this month involving the Attorney General's Chambers, police, army, immigration, customs, Rela and anti-smuggling units.
Alias said the ministry would recommend to the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry to act against fishermen and the Fishermen's Association (Nekmat) if they were involved in smuggling diesel.
Under the Supply Control Act 1961, offenders can be fined RM100,000 for individuals and RM250,000 for companies or jailed three years, in addition to the suspension of licence.
Up to March 5, eight smuggling cases were reported involving the seizure of diesel worth RM2.5 million.
The accounts of more than 173 syndicates amounting to RM10 million had been frozen under the Anti Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorism Financing Act 2001 and the Income Tax Act 1967.

"Last year, the ministry foiled fuel smuggling with the confiscation of diesel worth RM7.47 million," said Alias.
On another note, he urged the public to make detailed complaints on the locations and premises which raised the price of water containers and drinking water to enable spot checks.
A total of 5,265 premises including retail shops, supermarkets, mini markets, hypermarkets and wholesalers nationwide were inspected but there was no sharp price increase as reported.

Finally! Ever since warning after warning and numerous operations, its time for Government to act and put a full stop!

Latest operation has busted the biggest diesel smuggling syndicate in Melaka, Negri Sembilan and Selangor. This is not new, infact almost every month it is reported that these syndicates were busted and to the extend their bank accounts were revealed.

Surprisingly, they are still large in numbers and the monies revealed are always in millions.

Can we imagine, these culprits are enjoying what was supposed to be given to the poor by the government, and at the same time it is at the nation's thrift and some are facing water rationing till end of March?

Please take note on Dato Alias call to come forward should you encountered any suspicious activities especially to traders who raised prices unreasonably. Lodge a complaint appropriately to the ministry for them to act further.

Oil smuggling not only a big threat to the country's economy and finally impacts the nation.

OIL BUNKER SMUGGLING EXPOSED - TASK FORCE RED ALERT!

Last year in February, NST reported that our Government have seized the smuggling of RM252 million ($81.5 million) worth stolen fuel that was attempted to be sold to bunker operators in waters off Pengerang in Kota Tinggi. The suspects attempted to sell to bunker operators in Johor, Singapore and Batam in Indonesia after a report was lodged by an oil company that 70,000 metric tonnes of fuel were stolen.

Earlier, The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) detained four ships over alleged illegal fuel transfers amounting to 123,740 litres of diesel and the following day another ship was caught transferring 50,000 litres of marine fuel oil (MFO) and 30,000 litres of marine gas oil (MGO) Teluk Ramunia.

Middle last year what was considered as the biggest bust, and again our Government have foiled a plot that involved smuggling 5,600 litres of diesel worth more than RM3 million ($939,000) from a smuggling ring selling subsidised diesel to vessels travelling on international waters off Pengerang too.

All these are subsidised oil by the Government and a great forgone to country's revenue. Why and how it happened?

When demands are lucrative to sustain these international ships in high volumes that offers big quantity with handsome margin, this attracts bunkering smuggling. What contributed most is the existence of illegal ports that are not registered with respectives agencies such as Marine Department.

Due to difference in price in neighbouring countries and weak enforcement, it facilitates smuggling activities. For instance, in Thailand diesel price is RM3.00 - RM3.50 per liter whereas RON95 is almost RM4.50 - RM5.00. This does not include other items such as LPG whereby in Malaysia, selling price is at RM1.80 - RM2.00 as compared to Thailand is at RM2.50 - RM3.00

Such activities are popular in Northern and Eastern Peninsula namely in Padang Besar and Wang Kelian, Perlis; Durian Burung and Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah; Bentong, Perak; and Golok, Kelantan. Whereas at Singapore border, stern enforcement actions are imposed.

Prevention is better than cure, so they said. Therefore government imposed certain measures such as to set a quota on every diesel purchased at a certain period of RM200.00.

Somehow, this will not hinder these syndicates from returning again and again to fill their additional tanks in modified vehicles.

Which ministry is responsible?

It involves enforcement such as The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-Operatives and Consumerism. Its Enforcement Division should monitor from the ground and combat the abused controlled  syndicate tankers operate during their favorite hours that is in the middle of the night. Collections from each and every gas stations and especially illegal gas stations spread trhough Malaysia-Thailand border need to be given a priority too.

An anti-smuggling task force comprises of a joint venture of forces should also be included for better engagement and coordination in combating such abused of controlled subsidised items.