KLANG, Oct 15 — The Selangor branch of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) 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 today.
Its director Mohd Zuhairi Mat Radey said the raid, conducted in collaboration with the Selangor police contingent headquarters' Special Branch at 1pm, resulted in the seizure of 133,000 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil worth RM333,000.
The premises were found to be committing the offence of transferring 1kg packets of cooking oil into 17kg drums for resale at 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 the press after the raid.
Zuhairi added that they discovered that one of the premises was being used as a storage facility for cooking oil transfer operations, while the adjacent premises were used for cutting subsidised cooking oil packets.
KPDN also found a large amount of cut-open packet-type cooking oil plastics, 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 the suspects were attempting to destroy.
“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.
The premises in question had been seized under Act 122, while the company involved could potentially be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing, and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001.
Zuhairi noted that the raid was part of the Kita Gempur initiative to address issues of manipulation in business activities and leakage involving controlled and subsidised goods.
Members of the public with information related to the misappropriation of controlled and subsidised goods are 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 mobile app.
