Latest news with #S.Jegan
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Penang KPDN to act against misuse of subsidised cooking oil
GEORGE TOWN: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Penang, will not hesitate to take action against individuals or entities involved in the misuse of subsidised goods. State director S. Jegan said the department continuously monitors all activities involving the use of cooking oil, not just in terms of supply, but also related practices, including the use of oil in religious rituals, such as prayer oil used by Hindu devotees, as raised by the Penang Hindu Association (PHA). "Although we have yet to receive any official complaints on the matter, our enforcement officers are consistently carrying out duties under all relevant laws, including those related to the misuse of subsidised goods. "We urge any parties, whether members of the public or associations, who have information regarding such misuse to channel it to KPDN through our official complaint channels. "This will facilitate early action and help avoid public panic or concerns that may lead to a disharmonious situation," he said today. His remarks came in response to concerns raised by the PHA regarding enforcement efforts to curb the misuse of subsidised cooking oil. PHA president Datuk P. Murugiah claimed the association had received insider information from retail sources that most of the prayer oil used by Hindus and temples was, in fact, subsidised cooking oil. "The government introduced the RM2.50 per kg subsidised cooking oil scheme to ensure affordability for low-income households, particularly those in the B40 group. "However, this initiative has been exploited by unscrupulous suppliers who repackage the cooking oil as prayer oil and sell it at exorbitant prices. "In a recent PHA price survey, one particular prayer oil brand was listed at RM8.20 per litre, a staggering 228 per cent profit from the subsidised price. Some brands are sold at even higher prices," he said in a statement. Murugiah added that the issue was not new. Two years ago, KPDN enforcement officers apprehended a trader for refilling subsidised cooking oil into different bottles and selling it as prayer oil at inflated prices. PHA has urged KPDN to intensify its monitoring of the matter and to conduct regular checks on the source and pricing of prayer oil products sold at retail outlets.
New Straits Times
10-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Syndicate using courier services to transport subsidised cooking oil busted
BUTTERWORTH: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has exposed a new tactic in misappropriating subsidised cooking oil packs using courier services following a raid on a warehouse in Kampung Sungai Puyu here today. Its Penang branch director S. Jegan said 14,380 packets of 1kg subsidised cooking oil packs were seized from the warehouse, along with a lorry and other documents, with a total value of RM204,500. "Preliminary investigations found that the wholesaler used courier services to send the packs in large quantities to an address in Perlis while the packs were brought to the courier warehouse in a lorry in deliveries of twice a month," he told reporters at a media conference at the location of the raid. A man, 60, who was the driver of the lorry was arrested after he failed to provide any license, permit or documents to conduct business, to store or use the controlled item. The case is being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961, he added. – Bernama
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Penang KPDN seizes RM36,240 worth of illegal diesel in raid
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang branch of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) seized a lorry and 2,000 litres of diesel worth a total of RM36,240 during an Ops Tiris 3.0 raid at a petrol station in Simpang Ampat near here yesterday. Its director, S. Jegan, said the department received a public complaint regarding the activity before conducting an operation at 9.30 pm and successfully detected a lorry involved in suspicious diesel refuelling activities. 'A team of enforcement officers conducted an inspection and found a lorry transferring diesel into an IBC tank. Further checks revealed two modified IBC tanks connected with hoses and pumps from the original tank, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 litres, located at the back of the lorry. 'Further checks found that the lorry driver, a local man, failed to produce any authorisation documents to deal with the controlled goods,' he said in a statement today. He added that the department seized all items, including a lorry, a set of hoses and pumps, and two IBC tanks containing 2,000 litres of diesel, all valued at RM36,240, as well as several business documents to assist in the investigation. Jegan said further investigation was underway to identify individuals or companies involved in the diesel distribution chain.
The Sun
22-05-2025
- The Sun
Penang KPDN seizes RM36,240 worth of illegal diesel
BUKIT MERTAJAM: The Penang branch of the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) seized a lorry and 2,000 litres of diesel worth a total of RM36,240 during an Ops Tiris 3.0 raid at a petrol station in Simpang Ampat near here yesterday. Its director, S. Jegan, said the department received a public complaint regarding the activity before conducting an operation at 9.30 pm and successfully detected a lorry involved in suspicious diesel refuelling activities. 'A team of enforcement officers conducted an inspection and found a lorry transferring diesel into an IBC tank. Further checks revealed two modified IBC tanks connected with hoses and pumps from the original tank, with an estimated capacity of 1,000 litres, located at the back of the lorry. 'Further checks found that the lorry driver, a local man, failed to produce any authorisation documents to deal with the controlled goods,' he said in a statement today. He added that the department seized all items, including a lorry, a set of hoses and pumps, and two IBC tanks containing 2,000 litres of diesel, all valued at RM36,240, as well as several business documents to assist in the investigation. Jegan said further investigation was underway to identify individuals or companies involved in the diesel distribution chain.
