ALOR GAJAH: A total of RM87.03mil in seizures were recorded under Ops Tiris 3.0 from Jan 1 to Nov 22, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said 39,069 inspections were also carried out nationwide, 2,521 cases were recorded, and 604 individuals, both locals and foreigners, were arrested.
"Meanwhile, for Ops Kesan, from Jan 1 to Sept 23, 2024, the ministry carried out 50,725 premises inspections and received 106 public complaints nationwide," he told reporters after the ministry’s 2024 Basic Enforcement Science Course Graduation Parade here on Monday (Nov 25).
Also present were the ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Sayuthi Bakar and director-general Datuk Azman Adam.
A total of 284 officers, namely 244 newly appointed officers, 40 promoted officers (KPSL) and serving officers (PSB), completed the course.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the ministry had drawn up an omnipresence strategy to increase the presence of the ministry's enforcement machinery in the field starting January to strengthen the control and monitoring aspects. This strategy included implementing follow-up actions on every complaint and report received by the ministry from various parties.
He said the omnipresence strategy was drawn up in line with the implementation of KITA GEMPUR, which encompasses the roles of four stakeholder components: government agencies (K), industry players (I), compliance with the code of conduct (T), and public participation (A) in the Movement to Combat Manipulation and Leakage (GEMPUR).
"Although the KITA GEMPUR movement involves the four components that I mentioned earlier, ultimately it will return to its centre, which is the follow-up action that our ministry’s enforcers will take," he said.
Meanwhile, Armizan said the ministry is facing challenges with its regulatory area being too wide and logistical issues, as well as the high population density and number of business premises.
He said for example, its Kapit branch has the largest regulatory area of 38,934 sq km covering two parliamentary constituencies and six state constituencies, while the Johor Bharu branch has a high population density and business premises involving six parliamentary and 13 state constituencies.
"So far we have 75 offices involving state branch offices and sub-branch offices compared to 162 district administrations... this means we are still unable to place (officers and personnel) according to district administrations due to the constraints of the number of enforcement officers we have.
"Despite the existence of these challenges, the ministry will always be committed to ensuring that the responsibility entrusted to us is to create healthy domestic trade, which is able to protect the interests of consumers, including ensuring that government subsidies, whether subsidised controlled goods, reach the target group," he said. - Bernama
