Photo: Ronnie Chin/The Star
IPOH: There is an increase in cases reported of syndicates selling subsidised diesel in Perak just for the first five months of the year, says the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Its Perak branch director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail (pic) said enforcement carried out until May 14, had resulted in the confiscation of more than
RM2.761mil worth of overall products under the purview of the ministry.
He, however, said the bulk of the confiscation was subsidised diesel.
Kamalludin said for the whole of last year, the amount of confiscated goods amounted to RM2.050mil.
“There is a significant increase in the raids carried out, especially on diesel smuggling activities.
“With more information from the public, and intel from our intelligence team, we managed to carry out more raids,” he told reporters at the branch Hari Raya event held at the Federal Building here today (May 16).
Kamalludin said several lorries used to fill up the subsidised diesel at petrol stations were also confiscated.
He said once the tanks are filled up, the lorries go to a certain location, store the diesel there, and the fuel is then sold at a cheaper price.
“However, we have increased our intel, and with more enforcement carried out, we are able to nab more culprits.
“That is why we see that just in the first few months of the year, there is an increase in the number of cases reported,” he added.
Kamalludin said whenever there was an increase in the price of diesel, these syndicates would take advantage by selling the subsidised diesel that they get at a cheaper price.
“I am confident that in the months to come, we will be nabbing more such syndicates with our strict enforcement,” he added.
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