MELAKA: What was supposed to be a routine press conference on the seizure of subsidised diesel ended up with Melaka police and the state Domestic Trade and Consumer Ministry (KPDNHEP) enforcement division at loggerheads over who was behind the success.
The police had told the media that the 2pm raid on Thursday, which led to the recovery of subsidised fuel worth RM186,000 at a Krubong store, was carried out by the force and that Melaka police chief Datuk Zainol Samah would hold a press conference that afternoon.
However, the division claimed in a media briefing at 10am that it was their personnel who conducted a two-week surveillance on the syndicate and seized the 12,000 litres of diesel in the raid.
“The syndicate has been active for the past six months and obtained supplies from petrol stations,” Melaka KPDNHEP director Norena Jaafar told reporters.
She said five suspects were detained during the raid, including two foreigners, and that a five-tonne lorry and 22 skid tanks were also seized.
She said the syndicate was believed to be selling diesel to industries at RM4 per litre after obtaining supplies at RM2.15 from petrol kiosks, adding that the case was being investigated under Section 21 of the Supply Control Act 1961.
Melaka Tengah OCPD Asst Comm Christopher Patit insisted that the raid was conducted by the police, saying it was unfair for his men to be “sidelined”.
“How is it that others can claim credit for our hard work? In the future, we will be careful to prevent a recurrence,” he added.
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