LABUAN — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Labuan branch, in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), successfully uncovered an illegal diesel storage activity during a joint raid under ‘Ops Tiris 4.0’ at a store in Patau-Patau here, yesterday.
Labuan KPDN director Junaidah Arbain said the 4.40 pm raid led to the seizure of an estimated 285 litres of liquid believed to be diesel, stored inside 19 jerry cans.
“Further inspection revealed that the scheduled controlled goods were kept without a valid permit issued by the Controller of Domestic Trade.
“Following the discovery, action was taken under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 against the store owner, a 64-year-old local man,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Junaidah added that the 285 litres of suspected diesel and the 19 jerry cans, valued at an estimated RM612.75, were seized for further investigation.
The case is being investigated under Section 21 of the Control of Supplies Act 1961 for unlawful possession or storage of scheduled controlled goods.
Under the Act, individuals found guilty face a fine of up to RM1 million or a prison sentence not exceeding three years, or both, for the first offence. For subsequent offences, the penalty increases to a fine of up to RM3 million or imprisonment up to five years, or both.
For companies, a fine of up to RM2 million can be imposed for the first offence, and up to RM5 million for subsequent offences.
Junaidah expressed her appreciation to Labuan JKDM for the close cooperation during ‘Ops Tiris 4.0’, emphasizing that strategic inter-agency collaboration will be continuously strengthened to effectively combat the misappropriation of controlled goods and leakages of government subsidies.
She also urged the public to act as the eyes and ears of the government by reporting any information regarding the misappropriation of controlled items, subsidy abuse, or unauthorized storage and transfer of controlled goods to KPDN to ensure subsidies reach the rightful target groups.
