Parliament: Nanotechnology Helps Detect Smuggled Subsidised Fuel

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 6 (Bernama) — The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry uses nanotechnology to detect smuggled subsidised fuel, the Dewan Rakyat was told Thursday.

Deputy Minister Datuk Rohani Abdul Karim said nanotechnology was able to differentiate subsidised fuel through its colour and facilitated investigation in cases of smuggled subsidised fuel brought to court.

She was replying to a supplementary question raised by Datuk Ismail Kasim (BN-Arau) who had wanted to know how the government monitored the leakages associated with subsidised fuel.

Rohani also said that the ministry, besides being tipped off by the public, also collaborated with the police, Customs and the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) in checking the smuggling of subsidised fuel to other countries.

When replying to the original question, from Datuk Eric Enchin Majimbun (IND-Sepanggar) on the fuel subsidy borne by the government for land, air and sea transportation, she said the subsidy for land transportation in peninsular Malaysia was RM8.642 billion, in Sabah RM791 million and in Sarawak RM883 million.

“There is no government fuel subsidy for air and sea transportation,” she said.

The fuel subsidy for 2011 for the transportation sector was expected to rise to RM16.38 billion, she said, adding that the increase and decrease in the quantum of subsidy depended on the changes in fuel prices in the global market.