The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched a probe into possible misconduct within the tyre industry, with investigators said to be looking at issues ranging from suspected price manipulation to the importation of unsafe tyres.
According to a report by Berita Harian, the investigation is centred on the annual import of up to 300 containers of tyres. Some of these tyres are believed to be unsuitable for local road conditions, raising concerns about public safety.
At the heart of the probe is an estimated RM70 million in lost government revenue each year. This shortfall is linked to unpaid import duties, which include a 40% tariff on tyres shipped in from non-Asean Free Trade Area (AFTA) countries and a 10% Sales and Service Tax (SST). Authorities believe roughly 100,000 heavy vehicle tyres brought into Malaysia annually may have bypassed these duties.
When asked about the matter, MACC’s Special Operations Division senior director, Datuk Mohamad Zamri Zainul Abidin, confirmed that the commission is investigating but declined to disclose further details.
The timing of the probe comes as tyre prices in Malaysia have surged significantly. Industry data suggests that prices have risen between 5% and 10% in recent years, with some figures indicating that costs have tripled since 2022.
Beyond the financial implications, safety remains a pressing concern. Road safety advocate Jamil Manan Supri highlighted that tyre-related mechanical failures are a major factor in local road accidents. He described repeated “flying tyre” incidents as a ticking time bomb and criticised the current level of enforcement as inadequate.
With tyres being a crucial part of road safety and rising prices already putting pressure on consumers, the findings of this investigation could have a significant impact not only on the industry but also on everyday drivers.
