PUTRAJAYA – Two premises in Selangor – in Petaling Jaya and Puchong – were raided on July 1, on suspicion of selling cooking oil online via well-known e-commerce platforms.
The raid in Petaling Jaya involved a rented house, while in Puchong involved a shophouse – both were used as storage and packaging site for groceries purchased online.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry enforcement director Azman Adam said the Petaling Jaya raid found, among others, 255kg of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg packets and other groceries stored as stock for online sales.
“Further inspection found subsidised cooking oil in 1kg packets totalling 255kg. The premise also failed to produce any permit or document under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 that allows them to deal with controlled goods,” he said in a statement today.
He said the action was taken against the premise on suspicion of committing an offence under Section 16 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 and sub regulation 3 (1) of the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974.
He added that from the information obtained, each packet of 1kg cooking oil was sold at RM2.50 each. Also seized were several other business-related documents for further investigation. The total value of the seizure was estimated at RM637.50.
A statement from a local man who claimed to be an employee was also recorded to assist the investigation.
Meanwhile, in Puchong, the team found 27 units of 1kg, 2kg and 3kg bottles of cooking oil stored at the premise.
“The premise produced a retail licence under the Control of Supply Act 1961 which is still valid, but the address registered in the licence is different from the address of the premise that stores the controlled items,” he said.
A statement from a local woman who claimed to be the supervisor of the premise was recorded to assist the investigation as she was suspected of committing an offence under Section 20 (1) of the Control of Supply Act 1961 and the total value of the seizure is estimated at RM858, he said.
Azman added that investigation papers had been opened and further investigations into the two cases would be conducted under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. This is to identify the cooking oil distribution chain involved, including information from where the supply was obtained.
He said parties could also be investigated under the Anti-Money Laundering, Anti-Terrorism Financing and Proceeds from Unlawful Activities Act 2001 (Act 613).
“The Domestic Trade Ministry would like to give a stern warning to all traders who deal in controlled and subsidised goods, especially cooking oil, to always comply with the existing laws, and the ministry will not compromise with the parties involved in the misappropriation of controlled goods,” he said.
On June 30, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the special inflation task force which he chaired, detected actions of online sellers reselling 1kg subsidised cooking oil packets at RM27 for five packets, compared with only RM12.50 for five packets at the market.
Annuar has directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to take action under the existing laws, while the Domestic Trade Ministry will follow up to ensure stern action is taken against the offenders. – Bernama, July 4, 2022
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