JOHOR BARU: A restaurant in Pasir Gudang was found misappropriating subsidised cooking oil by transferring it from 1kg plastic packets into bottles for business use.
Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said the misappropriation was uncovered at the restaurant in Taman Megah Ria during a joint inspection at about 3pm on Thursday (April 9).
“The eatery used a tactic where subsidised cooking oil packets were cut open and the contents funneled into cooking oil bottles, believed to be for the premises’ operations.
“The manager of the restaurant, in his 40s, was also arrested to assist in investigations,” she said in a statement on Saturday (April 11).
She added that further checks found equipment such as scissors, funnels and bottles, suspected to have been specifically used for the activity inside the premises.
“Inspection also found the premises storing controlled items, namely sugar, subsidised cooking oil and wheat flour, without a valid permit,” she said.
She said the total value of seized items is minimal and still being documented, but enforcement action was taken to ensure compliance with the law.
Among the items seized were controlled goods such as sugar, subsidised cooking oil and wheat flour.
Lilis Saslina said the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for suspected offences involving controlled goods, where individuals found guilty face a fine of up to RM1mil or imprisonment of up to three years, or both, while repeat offenders may be fined up to RM3mil or jailed up to five years, or both.
Companies may be fined up to RM2mil and up to RM5mil for subsequent offences.
She said Johor KPDN will not compromise in enforcing the law to curb the misappropriation of controlled goods in the interest of the rakyat.
Members of the public can channel information or lodge complaints on such activities via KPDN’s official channels, including WhatsApp (019-848 8000), the e-Aduan portal, the call centre (1-800-886-800) and the Ez ADU KPDN mobile application.
