Kuala lumpur: The Home Ministry (KDN) has proposed a significant shift in handling cases of subsidised diesel embezzlement involving fleet card misuse, advocating for court prosecution over the traditional method of settling such issues through compounds.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasized the necessity for stringent legal action, given the substantial volumes involved in subsidised diesel misappropriation, which critically undermines government efforts to prevent subsidy leakages. The Home Minister conveyed his recommendations to the Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, suggesting the initiation of investigation papers to ensure that such cases culminate in criminal charges rather than mere financial penalties.

During the Jelajah Wira MADANI programme organized by the Southeast Brigade of the General Operations Force (GOF), Saifuddin stressed the need for stricter administrative measures against fleet card owners found guilty of abuse, advocating for the immediate revocation of their rights. He highlighted the severity of the issue, noting that these cases often involve hundreds of thousands of litres of diesel, far exceeding minor infractions.

Recent enforcement actions have already disrupted a fleet card abuse syndicate in Kedah. Authorized cardholders, eligible to purchase subsidised diesel at RM2.15 per litre, had reportedly surrendered their cards to the syndicate, which subsequently sold the fuel at market prices to industries.

In response to the ongoing threat of subsidised fuel smuggling near national borders, the government has deployed police officers to high-risk petrol stations. Saifuddin affirmed that this enforcement measure would persist until further notice, underscoring the critical need to prevent acts of smuggling and abuse amidst global energy supply challenges.