NIBONG TEBAL: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry seized 6.4 tonnes of cooking oil worth RM20,166 and detained three men, including two foreigners, during a raid on an unnumbered storage facility in Kampung Sanglang yesterday.
The operation was conducted with the marine police after enforcement officers uncovered about 900kg of one-kilogramme cooking oil packets, 4,000 cut-open packets and an estimated 5,500kg of cooking oil stored in six intermediate bulk container (IBC) tanks.
Other items seized included a pump motor, hoses and an aluminium storage tank.
State Domestic Trade and Cost of Living director S. Jegan said the three suspects would be remanded to assist in investigations.
"The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and Regulation 3(1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974," he said in a statement, adding that an investigation paper had been opened.
The seizure followed a similar integrated operation by the ministry and the northern region marine police at a premises in Penaga on Oct 12.
That operation uncovered the suspected transfer of packaged cooking oil into storage tanks, with seizures valued at RM65,450.
Jegan said any direct link between the two cases would depend on the outcome of investigations.
He said the ministry would intensify enforcement to curb the suspected misuse of subsidised cooking oil, which is intended for eligible Malaysians.
Members of the public with information on the misuse of controlled goods can lodge complaints via the ministry's WhatsApp hotline at 019-848 8000, its e-Aduan portal at eaduan.kpdn.gov.my, the toll-free hotline at 1-800-886-800 or the EzADU mobile application.
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