KUANTAN: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized 59,000 litres of diesel worth RM355,000 in an operation at premises in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park here Monday (May 4).
Pahang Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director Jezlily Jamaluddin said inspections carried out under Ops Tiris 4.0 by a team of enforcement officers found that the premises were being used as a storage site for controlled goods, namely diesel, without a valid licence or approval from the Supply Controller.
"Among the items seized were five skid tanks containing an estimated 57,000 litres of diesel, as well as an industrial tanker lorry carrying about 2,000 litres of diesel," she said in a statement.
She said the case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Regulation 18(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974 for possession of controlled goods without a valid licence or permit from the Supply Controller.
"Any person who commits an offence may be prosecuted under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. If the person is a body corporate, they may be fined up to RM2mil, and for a second or subsequent offence, up to RM5mil.
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"If the person is not a body corporate, they may be fined up to RM1mil or imprisoned for a term not exceeding two years, or both, and for a second or subsequent offence, fined up to RM3mil or imprisoned for a term not exceeding five years, or both," she said.
Jezlily said the ministry will continue to intensify enforcement activities from time to time to curb any misappropriation involving controlled goods and will take firm action against those who violate the law.
"The Ministry calls for public cooperation to channel any information or complaints related to misconduct and the misappropriation of controlled goods through the official channels provided," she said. - Bernama
