Government mulls police at border petrol stations

The government is studying the need to deploy police at border petrol stations to enhance security, while also reviewing diesel subsidy mechanisms for fishermen.

PUTRAJAYA: The government is examining the need to deploy security personnel, including police officers, at petrol stations located near the country’s borders to enhance security controls.

Communications Minister and MADANI Government spokesperson Fahmi Fadzil said the initiative was being considered after the Cabinet was briefed by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living on several arrests made at such border stations.

“Several aspects involving security need to be improved and the Cabinet is considering the need for the presence of security personnel, especially PDRM personnel,” he stated at a press conference following a Cabinet meeting.

He added that the mechanism for using the MyKasih system and MyKad for distributing subsidies, including for diesel for Malaysians, will be studied by the Ministry of Finance.

“This mechanism will be studied by MOF and will be decided by the Cabinet before being finally announced,” Fahmi explained.

Regarding issues faced by fishermen over diesel, he said the Cabinet has directed the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security and KPDN to study several follow-up actions, including the price difference between subsidised diesel and the revenue returns for fishermen.

“This has resulted in fishing activities, especially in coastal and deep sea areas, being affected,” he noted.

Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister Fadillah Yusof said lead agencies had been identified to stem leakages, with the land sector led by KPDN, the border sector by the police, and the maritime sector by the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency.

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