IPOH: About RM1.7mil worth of subsidised diesel was seized, and four people were arrested during a raid at Kampung Baru Lumut in Manjung.
Perak Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail said they seized about 60,429 litres of the fuel, which was being transferred from a tanker onto a tugboat on Sunday (Jan 7) at about 12.30pm.
Kamalludin said the raid was conducted after two weeks of surveillance and investigation on bunkering (supplying fuel to ships).
"Our initial investigation found that the tugboat was owned by a licensed retail bunkering company in Manjung while the tanker is owned by a diesel supplying company based in Selangor.
"Further checks found some suspicious transactions, which are believed to be fake because we found different transactions based on records obtained from oil supply companies," he said in a statement.
"We believe the syndicate was trying to falsify its transaction records to confuse us.
"The fuel is also found to be different from those used by other tugboats, as it is believed to be obtained from a subsidised source that has been mixed with commercial fuel and collected from various sources such as petrol stations and fuel for fishermen," he added.
Kamalludin said those arrested included a 33-year-old lorry driver, a lorry attendant (36), a tugboat supervisor (25) and a company agent (24).
"The matter is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act and Control of Supplies Regulations.
"Individually, those found guilty under the Act can be fined up to RM1mil or three years in jail or both," he said, adding that the companies involved could be fined not more than RM2mil if convicted.
"The ministry is committed and consistent in enforcing the law when it involves wrongdoings in relation to subsidised diesel.
"We called on the people to forward information to us to combat such illegal activities and to prevent abuse of subsidised diesel," he added.
The department can be contacted via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317, its portal at http://eaduan.kpdn.gov.my; call centre at 1-800-866-800; by email to e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my or its mobile app "Ez Adu KPDN".
