KLANG: The Selangor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry arrested nine individuals, including two foreigners, suspected of actively engaging in the misappropriation of subsidised cooking oil during a raid on a shop house in the Klang Utama Industrial Area here on Wednesday (Oct 15).
Its director, Mohd Zuhairi Mat Radey, said the raid, conducted in collaboration with the Special Branch of Selangor police contingent headquarters at 1pm, resulted in the seizure of 133,000 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil worth RM333,000.
He said the premises were found to be committing the offence of transferring one kg packets of cooking oil into 17kg drums for resale at a price of RM76 compared to RM118 in the market.
"The inspection found that two premises were actively carrying out the activity, and it is believed that the cooking oil was being resold in the local and foreign markets at a profit," he told reporters after the raid here.
Mohd Zuhairi said the investigation found that one of the premises was used as a storage facility for cooking oil transfer operations, while the other adjacent premises was used for cutting subsidised cooking oil packets.
He said they also found a large amount of cut-open packet-type cooking oil plastic, including equipment believed to have been used in the oil transfer process, as well as documents related to the supply of packet cooking oil and transactions that were being attempted to be destroyed.
"We suspect the premises in question obtained supplies from a specific supplier before reselling the cooking oil under various registered brands available in the market.
"Seven of the suspects are locals, working in the premises management department, while two foreign workers have been detained for further action under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (Act 122) for possessing controlled goods with the intention of committing an offence," he said.
Mohd Zuhairi said the premises in question had been seized under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, while the company involved could potentially be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
The public with information related to the misappropriation of controlled and subsidised goods is advised to submit complaints via WhatsApp (019-848 8000), the KPDN e-Complaint Portal, the call centre (1-800-886-800) and the Ez ADU KPDN application. — Bernama
