JOHOR BARU: The Johor Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has seized over 1,600 metric tons of cooking oil estimated to be valued at more than RM8mil after an inspection at a cooking oil packaging company in Kulai.
State ministry director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said a team of Johor domestic trade officers carried out the inspection at around 8.15pm last Wednesday (July 24).
“The inspection was made following auditing carried out by Domestic Trade Putrajaya enforcement officers on the documentation of the company's cooking oil sales transaction,” she said in a statement here on Sunday (July 28).
Lilis Saslinda added during the inspection, her team met with the company employee to obtain information and submitted a stock declaration under Section 8 of the Supply Control Act 1961.
She said the inspection revealed that the quantity of cooking oil at the business address exceeded the limit for the storage quantity of cooking oil approved under the wholesale scheduled controlled goods licence.
“As such, Johor domestic trade has taken action and seized around 1,635.3 metric tons of various types of cooking oil and some business documents for further investigation.
“The total amount of the seized cooking oils is estimated to be up to RM8.4mil,” she said adding that the case was being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961 and breach of Regulation 9(1) of the Supply Control Regulations 1974.
Lilis Saslinda added that if found guilty, the offence carries a fine of up to RM1mil or three years imprisonment for first-time offenders but if repeat offenders, the fine was not more than RM3mil or jail not more than five years or both.
She said for organisations or corporations, the fine does not exceed RM2mil for the first offence and RM5mil for the second and subsequent offences.
“Johor domestic trade would like to emphasise that we will act efficiently and quickly and will not compromise in enforcing the law to combat the syndicate of syphoning controlled goods for the people’s benefit.
“We urge the public to continue to make full use of the ministry's various complaint mediums to forward information to us,” she added.
Lilis Saslinda said complaints can be made through WhatsApp at 019-8488000 or 019-2794317, or through the ministry’s e-Aduan portal at e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my or contacting its call centre at 1-800-886-800 or using the Ez ADU KPDN smartphone apps.
