KUCHING, March 31: Business licenses of 27 companies nationwide have been suspended or revoked by the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) since Feb this year for offences related to subsidised cooking oil.
KPDNHEP Minister Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi in a statement today said stern actions including subsidised cooking oil quotas suspension were taken against these companies under the Control of Supply Act 1961 (CSA).
“Based on statistics, for the period from Jan 2018 to Feb 2022, a total of 401 cases involving offences related to the supply of cooking oil including subsidised cooking oil were taken by the Ministry with a total confiscation value of RM15.57 million.
“These cases were the results of KPDNHEP’s enforcement at various levels of the distribution chain, from manufacturers to wholesalers and retailers,” Nanta said.
He disclosed that a total of nine investigation papers were opened under the Anti-Money Laundering, Prevention of Financing of Terrorism and Proceeds from Illegal Activities Act 2001 (AMLATFPUAA 2001) (Act 613).
This involved some RM1.79 million in value of company’s assets being frozen.
In addressing the issue of misappropriation and leakage of subsidised cooking oil, Nanta said KPDNHEP has implemented a special operation called Ops Goreng, aiming to conduct specific monitoring on packaging companies, wholesalers and retailers of cooking oil under the Cooking Oil Price Stabilization Scheme (COSS).
He assured that KPDNHEP was committed in ensuring misappropriation of subsidised cooking oil issue will be addressed effectively.
“We take this seriously and I would like to emphasise that the Ministry will not compromise with any party found to be involved in misappropriation and illegal activities, especially those related to subsidised cooking oil.
“Comprehensive inspections and monitoring will always be carried out, including cooking oil packaging companies and cooking oil refineries under COSS,” he added.
Meanwhile, following the opening of international border from April 1, KPDNHEP will enhance its border entry enforcement together with relevant agencies such as Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (APMM) and Malaysian Immigration Department (JIM) to eradicate issues related to leakage of controlled items including subsidised cooking oil.— DayakDaily
