Bukit Aman’s internal security and public order department acting director Fisol Salleh said in a statement today that the classification follows a rise in fuel smuggling activities, believed to be driven by current factors, including the global energy crisis.

He said General Operations Force (GOF) personnel, together with state contingent police units, were deployed from 6am today to the identified petrol stations in Perlis, Kedah, Kelantan, Perak, Sabah and Sarawak.

“The operation is being carried out in shifts, with officers and personnel from the GOF and state contingents assigned to ensure continuous and effective control at the identified locations.

“The focus of the deployment is on petrol stations operating between 6.30am and 11.30pm. These are peak transaction hours with a higher risk of smuggling activities.”

He said stations operating 24 hours will be subject to round-the-clock monitoring.

The move follows a Cabinet decision to station police personnel at selected petrol stations to strengthen monitoring and enforcement amid growing risks of fuel leakage.

Rising tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and broader Middle East hostilities have pushed up global oil prices above US$100 per barrel, contributing to higher fuel prices worldwide.

Malaysia has maintained subsidised RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre. The price of unsubsidised RON95, RON97 and diesel remains lower than in most countries.

The price gap has led to cases of smuggling across Malaysia’s borders, especially overland into Thailand and by sea to neighbouring countries.