Crime & Courts

Authorities find 935kg of subsidised cooking oil hidden in Cheras shop

KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 935 kilogrammes of subsidised cooking oil valued at RM2,500 was found hidden in a shop in Bandar Sri Permaisuri, Cheras here yesterday.

The stash was discovered after officers from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (Kuala Lumpur) raided the shop following a complaint lodged by a consumer on the ministry's e-aduan system.

The ministry, in a statement, said its officers, in disguise, conducted a test purchase as part of its Op Samar before the raid.

"During the test purchase, the seller told the undercover officers that the 1kg polybag subsidised cooking oil was sold out.

"However, it did not allay the officers' suspicions. Uniformed officers then entered the shop and met with its supervisor.

"A thorough inspection of the shop turned up scores of boxes containing polybag cooking oil in the store room," read the statement.

The officers seized 935kg of the cooking oil, estimated to be worth RM2,524.50.

The ministry said action would be taken under Section 16 (1) (b) of the Control of Supplies Act 1961.

"This joint operation is a new initiative by the government, namely 'Gerakan Membanteras Manipulasi dan Ketirisan' (GEMPUR) via the ministry, as announced by Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali on Oct 19.

"This is a strategic move to tackle the issue of manipulation in business activities and to address leakages of controlled and subsidised goods," it said.

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