BUKIT KAYU HITAM: Diesel smuggling activity is nothing new here, but the syndicate’s movement has slowed down since the authorities beefed up its patrols along the Malaysia-Thailand border.

       Kedah domestic trade and consumer affairs committee chairman Wan Romani Wan Salim said all the security agencies had been keeping a close watch on the matter, adding that there were no reported diesel smuggling activities lately.

       “Various security agencies have increased their patrol since the reopening of the international border on April 1.

       “But even before the Covid-19 pandemic, such activities had been gradually reduced as the authorities intensified operations along the border,” he said.

       Over the years, the security agencies in both countries had foiled smuggling attempts involving petrol and diesel supplies, ketum leaves and other contraband at the borders of Sadao-Bukit Kayu Hitam and Wang Prachan (Satun)-Wang Kelian (Perlis).

       As of March 28, the diesel price per litre in Malaysia is RM2.15 compared to RM3.73 in Thailand.

       Meanwhile, Changlun Bukit Kayu Hitam Taxi Association vice-president Mohd Zainuddin Makul claimed that before the pandemic, he heard of Thai trucks and lorries coming into the country to buy diesel.“But with the routine operations carried out by the Malaysian authorities, smuggling activities have gradually reduced.

       “Authorities such as the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and police are working hard to prevent such illegal trade,” he said.

       He added that the smuggling of subsidised diesel would be curbed as motorcycles and cars from Thailand had been banned from entering Malaysia.

       For now, only private cars were allowed to enter Malaysia through the Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Safety Complex, he said.

       “Since April 1, only about 50 to 80 people have crossed the border to Malaysia daily.

       “Most of them are Malaysian citizens who work in Sadao district or Thai nationals who work here.

       “Tourists have only accounted for a small percentage of the total number of people crossing the border,” he said.