The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) successfully intercepted an attempt to embezzle 800 litres of subsidised diesel at a petrol station along the Pasir Gudang Highway yesterday. Johor KPDN Director, Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, confirmed in a statement that the illicit fuel was discovered after the Enforcement Patrol Unit (URP) flagged down and inspected a suspicious lorry at approximately 2 pm.
Upon conducting a thorough examination of the vehicle, enforcement officers uncovered a sophisticated modification involving the installation of two pumps. These pumps were connected directly from the lorry’s original fuel tank to an additional Intermediate Bulk Container (IBC) hidden within the storage compartment. The IBC was found to be filled with roughly 800 litres of diesel, intended for illegal diversion.
The lorry driver, a man in his 40s, was detained after failing to produce any valid documentation, including the mandatory special permit required for the storage or bulk purchase of diesel. This lack of authorization led to the immediate seizure of the vehicle and its contents as part of the ministry’s ongoing crackdown on fuel subsidy leakage.
According to Lilis Saslinda, the total value of the seized items, including the fuel and the modified lorry, is estimated to be approximately RM20,716. The authorities are taking the matter seriously as such activities directly impact the national economy and the availability of subsidised resources for the general public.
The case is currently being investigated under the Control of Supplies Act 1961. If convicted, individuals involved in the misappropriation of controlled goods face heavy fines and potential imprisonment, while companies could face even stiffer financial penalties and the revocation of business licences.
