KUDAT: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) arrested a total of 496 individuals and confiscated controlled and subsidised goods worth RM80.11 million in Ops Tiris 3.0 from January to August last year.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said in the same period, a total of 2,005 cases were recorded as a result of 29,487 inspections that had been carried out nationwide.
Armizan stressed that the efforts to curb the activities of diversion or smuggling of controlled goods and subsidised controlled goods include diesel, RON95, 1kg cooking oil in polybags, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), wheat flour and 1kg refined white sugar.
“KPDN will continue to improve enforcement agility including strengthening cooperation with related agencies,” he told the media after completing the Sentuhan Kasih and Consumer Advocacy Program at Dataran Tomborungus, near here, Sunday.
Also present were Tanjung Kapor State Assembly Member, Chong Chen Bin @ Ben Chong, and Tanjung Kapor Community Development Leader, Norlizah Gurahman.
Armizan said, on Aug 23, 2024, the KPDN together with the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) had successfully broken a subsidised cooking oil embezzlement syndicate as a result of raids on three separate premises in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan.
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He said, in the raid, a total of 180,200kg of subsidised cooking oil of various brands in addition to vehicles as well as several documents such as sales and purchase invoices were seized with the total value of the seizure in the operation estimated at RM490,500.
In the raid, they arrested a 32-year-old local man along with two foreign men who were also employees of the company and were arrested to help with the investigation.
“As a result of the initial investigation, the activity, suspected to have been masterminded by the licensed cooking oil wholesale company was aimed at diverting and transferring (decanting) subsidised cooking oil in 1kg polybag packages for sale at a price higher than the control price in addition to being smuggled out to neighbouring countries.”
Investigations are being carried out under the Supply Control Act 1961 including to identify individuals or other companies involved in this illegal activity as well as the subsidized cooking oil distribution chain.
“KPDN would like to remind all parties involved in the supply chain and distribution of subsidized 1kg polybag cooking oil to be more responsible in ensuring that this subsidy really reaches the target group.
“In addition to wholesalers and retailers, packaging companies (repackers) also cannot let go and must be responsible in ensuring that leakage does not occur.
He said repackers will also be investigated if a brand suspected of being involved in embezzlement and smuggling is seized in any enforcement operation.
