PASIR GUDANG: An attempt to siphon off some 53,974kg of subsidised cooking oil has been foiled by the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry following a raid here Saturday (June 26).

       The Ministry's Johor director Mohd Hairul Anuar Bohro said 10 enforcement officers raided a factory here at about 9.00am on Saturday following a two-week investigation.

       “Based on early investigations, we believe that the oil was sent to Pasir Gudang from several cooking oil packing factories in Kuantan and the Klang Valley.

       “The oil was then taken out of its plastic packaging and transferred into a tank at the factory here,” he said in a statement Saturday.

       He added that 53,974kg of cooking oil was seized along with two trailers, a tanker, two forklifts and several other equipment used to carry out the activity, bringing the total value of seized items to RM359,135.

       “A total of 24,819kg of cooking oil in the factory had already been transferred into a tank while 29,155kg was still in its original 1kg packaging.

       “We have also arrested three men who are between the ages of 30 and 40 years old. They include a lorry driver and workers believed to be involved in transporting the oil from the lorry into the factory,” Hairul said.

       He noted that the factory also did not have any permission to store or manage the controlled items.

       “Further investigations will be conducted on the owner of the factory. We will also be investigating the factories that have been supplying oil to the syndicate,” he said, adding that the case is being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961.

       Under the Act, offenders may be fined up to RM1mil or imprisoned for up to three years or both for the first offence.

       Second and consecutive offenders may be fined up to RM3mil or imprisoned for up to five years or both.