A local man was arrested after allegedly diverting subsidised cooking oil by mixing it with colouring before selling it as used cooking oil at a higher price.
The 51-year-old suspect was detained during raids on three separate premises near the Penang-Kedah border last night under the Integrated Ops Tiris 4.0 conducted by the Penang Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN).
Penang KPDN director S Jegan said inspections at two locations uncovered about 3,150 kilogrammes of subsidised packet cooking oil of various brands, along with equipment believed to have been used in the operation.
“His modus operandi was to purchase packet cooking oil, cut open the plastic packaging and mix the oil with colouring before transferring it into a tank to make it appear as used cooking oil.
“The used cooking oil was then sold for RM3.50,” he said during a press conference at the Penang KPDN Storage Complex in Bukit Minyak today.
Among the items seized were a four-wheel-drive vehicle, two empty packets of cooking oil that had been cut open, two knives, a pump with a hose, a 1,000-litre-capacity tank and an electricity meter.
Jegan said officers also inspected a third premises which held a Controlled Supply Act (CSA) licence and found an excess stock of about 850 kilogrammes of cooking oil.
The total value of the seized items and goods was estimated at RM95,000, while the suspect has been detained to assist with further investigations.
The operation highlights the authorities’ continued efforts to prevent subsidised cooking oil from being diverted from its intended use and entering unauthorised resale channels.
