THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has reported substantial enforcement achievements for 2025 and the first quarter of 2026, highlighting intensified action against subsidy leakages, strengthened supply chain controls, and expanded digital enforcement efforts aimed at protecting consumers and stabilising living costs.
In its latest enforcement report, KPDN said its flagship Ops Tiris initiative, conducted from March 2023 to 23 April 2026, has become a key instrument in curbing the diversion of subsidised goods, particularly diesel and other controlled items.
Enforcement director-general Datuk Azman Adam said across all phases of the operation, authorities carried out 139,551 inspections, resulting in 2,219 arrests and a total of 6,773 cases.
“The overall value of seizures under Ops Tiris reached RM263.41 million, including RM52.73 million in controlled goods and RM196.36 million in other seized items,” he said.
He explained that Ops Tiris 3.0 recorded the highest seizure value at RM188.22 million, while the latest phase, the integrated Ops Tiris 4.0, contributed RM16.85 million in a relatively short operational period.
Azman added enforcement officers have also been stationed at Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) complexes in Perlis, Kedah, Perak, Kelantan and Sarawak to conduct static inspections of both local and foreign vehicles.
From 1 January 2025 to 22 April 2026, a total of 124,477 vehicle inspections were carried out. Under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, 14 cases involving diesel and petrol misuse were recorded, with seizures valued at RM143,477.50.
He also pointed to major policy shifts in 2026, including new restrictions on controlled goods.
“From 1 March 2026, the sale of 1kg polybag cooking oil to non-citizens was prohibited, resulting in three cases and seizures worth RM15,115.
“From 1 April 2026, the sale of RON95 petrol to foreign-registered vehicles was fully banned, with 31 cases recorded between 2023 and March 2026, and two additional cases detected after the enforcement date,” he said.
He added enforcement audits also led to action against 94 companies, involving suspension or cancellation of controlled supply licences, while quotas were withdrawn from 27 ECOSS cooking oil quota holders for non-compliance.
On digital enforcement, the enforcement director-general said 1,347 websites were blocked and 746 unlawful advertisements removed between 2025 and April 2026, alongside monitoring and action on more than 18,000 viral online issues.
“The ministry’s anti-piracy efforts had also gained international recognition, with the Asia Video Industry Association (AVIA) identifying KPDN as a regional benchmark and inviting it to share expertise at a piracy roundtable in Singapore in late 2025.
In financial crime enforcement, the ministry’s efforts actions, under the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA), led to the freezing of assets worth RM9.92 million and the seizure of RM5.14 million in assets.
Through Ops Hasil, the ministry collected RM23.3 million in revenue in 2025, while fines and court penalties exceeded RM21 million, reflecting what it described as a continued effort to dismantle the financial networks behind illegal activities.
To address cost-of-living pressures, Azman said KPDN implemented the Seasonal Maximum Price Scheme covering more than 20 essential goods, achieving compliance rates above 95 per cent.
Separately, under Ops Kesan 4.0 and 5.0, authorities opened 1,443 investigation papers linked to anti-profiteering checks following subsidy adjustments and civil service remuneration reforms, issuing RM142,200 in compounds.
The ministry also introduced a digital Anti-Profiteering Calculator to help traders determine lawful profit margins and enable consumers to verify pricing transparency.
Meanwhile, the Patuh 2026 programme will target 75 public markets, 83 highway rest areas and 16 tourism zones nationwide, aiming for full compliance in price display and weighing practices.
KPDN said the initiative is designed to strengthen self-regulation among traders while enhancing enforcement efficiency and consumer protection.
The ministry urged the public to continue supporting enforcement efforts by reporting violations through official complaint channels, saying this was essential to maintaining market integrity and ensuring fair pricing for all consumers. - April 24, 2026
