Foreigners nabbed for decanting subsidised LPG

The Star

6 days ago

Major haul: Mohd Hazimin (left) inspecting a LPG cylinder seized on site in Malim Jaya. — Bernama
JOHOR BARU: Enforcement officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) have uncovered an illegal liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) storage facility at a warehouse in Ulu Tiram here.
Johor KPDN director Lilis Saslinda Pornomo said the operation which was jointly carried out by enforcement teams from KPDN Putrajaya and Johor, led to the seizure of 1,357 LPG cylinders worth an estimated RM280,000.
She added that five foreign men, aged between 30s and 40s, believed to be workers, were also arrested during the raid, which was held on Monday (July 28).
'We believe the suspects were involved in illegal LPG decanting activities. A tanker believed to be filled with LPG was also found on-site, along with equipment used to siphon gas from domestic cylinders into the vehicle,' she told a press conference at the scene here on Monday.
She also added that the illegal activity was carried out without proper safety measures, posing serious risks to both the workers and nearby residents.
'Initial investigations indicate that subsidised LPG, which is meant for household use, was being misappropriated and sold through unauthorised means,' she said adding that the case was being investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961.
Lilis Saslinda said the offence carries a fine of up to RM1mil, imprisonment for up to three years, or both upon conviction.
In MELAKA, Bernama reported that three Myanmar nationals were nabbed for misappropriating subsidised LPG worth RM40,000 in a raid under Ops Gasak in Malim Jaya here, said the ministry's state director Dr Mohd Hazimin Jamaludin.
The suspects, aged from 23 to 24, were detained in the 7pm raid on Monday while transferring subsidised LPG into 50kg industrial cylinders using illegal connector hoses.
The enforcement team seized 107 units of 14kg subsidised LPG, 59 units of 50kg cylinders, and 20 rubber hoses.