MELAKA KPDN SEIZES 560 KG OF COOKING OIL, 50 KG OF WHEAT FLOUR

MELAKA, Nov 7 (Bernama) -- The Melaka branch of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) seized 560 kilogrammes (kg) of subsidised cooking oil packets as well as 50 kg of wheat flour, worth RM1,553, through raids at several locations in the state.

Its director, Norena Jaafar said in the operation, a Bangladeshi vegetable seller, in his 30s, was also arrested, as he was suspected of being the mastermind behind the distribution of controlled goods in the foreign workers' settlement area at a construction site.

"The suspect was detained at a premises in Batu Berendam, which led to a second raid at a construction site in Krubong. The inspection there found 84 packets of subsidised cooking oil in grocery stores and eateries in the area,” she told reporters after the Kita Gempur (Movement to Combat Manipulation and Leakage) integrated operation here today.

"Further investigations found that the man is also suspected of being involved in similar activities at an oil palm plantation about three months ago but managed to escape.”

Norena said the vegetable seller had entered the country with a permit to work as a cleaner and is believed to have been involved in the activity for the past two years.

She also said that in Op Kita Gempur, which was also joined by the Melaka Immigration Department, her team carried out raids on two houses in Malim and Pengkalan Rama Pantai where several boxes of the controlled goods (subsidised cooking oil) were found.

"Additionally, the Immigration Department also detained six Bangladeshi nationals, in their 30s and 40s, to be investigated under the Immigration Act 1959 and Immigration Regulations 1963.

"Two of the suspects detained will also be investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 (AKB) and read together with the Control of Supplies Regulations 1974," she added.

-- BERNAMA