255 packets of subsidised cooking oil seized

PUTRAJAYA – The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) seized 255 kilograms (kg) of subsidised cooking oil in polybags at a building in Petaling Jaya during an operation last Friday.

KPDNHEP Enforcement Director Azman Adam said the raid was an operation aimed to eradicate the illegal sales of subsidised cooking oil online through famous e-commerce sites in Malaysia.

"Further investigations revealed only 1kg cooking oil packets were found on the premises and they failed to show any permission under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 from the supplier to trade the goods," he said.

Several business documents were along with the cooking oil, with the confiscated items totalling about RM637.50.

"The raiding team has taken action towards the premises under the suspicion of misconduct under Section 16 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 that is the sale of unlicensed goods and Subregulation 3(1) Supply Control Regulations 1974, where customers cannot deal wholesale or retail any unlicensed goods that were released under rule 4 of the same Act," he said in a statement on Monday.

On the same day, Azman said KPDNHEP had raided other premises in Puchong, Selangor and seized 27 units of bottled cooking oil from 1kg to 3kg with a total value of RM858.

"The results of the investigations in the premise revealed the retail license under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 that was still valid however, the address it was registered under was different from the premise the items were stored," he said.

Azman said the case was being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and investigation papers were opened for both cases to investigate the supply ring for the cooking oil and probe how it was acquired.

"If found guilty, a fine of up to RM1 million for the individual or prison no longer than three years or both while the company if found guilty will be fined up to RM3 million.

"The company could also be investigated under Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds of Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001) (Act 613), which is related to money laundering offences for the purpose of detecting, freezing, confiscating, and up to the point of divestment of any income or property generated from the illegal activities, malpractice of subsidised controlled goods especially cooking oil-related," he said.

Meanwhile, Azman said the sellers who dealt with controlled and subsidised goods especially cooking oil were reminded to always comply with the laws enforced.