KUALA LUMPUR: Nearly RM13 million worth of smuggled controlled goods have been seized as of June 14 this year.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the Ops Tiris operation had been expanded to curb the smuggling and misuse of controlled items, namely refined white sugar (coarse and fine), 1 kg polybagged cooking oil, RON95 petrol, and liquefied petroleum gas.

In a statement today, he said a total of RM12,956,089.96 worth of controlled items had been seized, with diesel being the most smuggled and diverted controlled item.

This Ops Tiris 3.0, he added, was as a result of the positive outcomes and developments from previous operations, which began on March 1, last year.

Through the previous Ops Tiris, the government had seized 6,441,118 litres of diesel worth RM14,208,824.00.

"The Madani Government remains committed to addressing diesel smuggling while striving to balance supply issues and the cost of living for the people.

"Subsidies are not being abolished; instead, the focus is on ensuring more efficient subsidy management, preventing leakage, and directing subsidies to the rightful groups.

"The government still has to bear around RM7 billion for diesel subsidies in Peninsular Malaysia," said Anwar.

He added that the primary goal of the targeted diesel subsidy was to prevent wasteful subsidies and ensure savings are returned to the wider population.

"Savings from this targeted subsidy will be reinvested into education, healthcare, public transportation, and other sectors that have the greatest impact on the public."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/06/1064577/pm-rm13-mil-worth-smuggled-goods-seized-june-14