The Star/Asia News Network
Saturday, Jul 06, 2013
JOHOR BARU - The Johor Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consu*merism Ministry has recorded a total of 85 cases involving the smuggling and selling of subsidised diesel in the first six months of the year.
State Tourism, Domestic Trade and Consumerism committee chairman Datuk Tee Siew Kiong said the figure was an increase from the 168 cases recorded the whole of last year.
"We realise there is a problem where many are buying diesel from petrol stations at the domestic price of RM1.80 to sell to factories and ships at the higher industrial price of about RM2.49," he said during a press conference here.
Tee said the state was beefing up efforts to address the matter and to take action against those involved in such activities.
He said a total of RM323,390 worth of diesel had been seized.
Tee said the ministry would monitor the price of 15 types of controlled goods before and during the Hari Raya period.
Some of the items listed in the controlled goods scheme are tomatoes, chilli, live and dressed chicken, local and imported beef, buffalo meat, vegetables, eggs and seafood.
Tee also urged the public to forward complaints and reports of any suspicious activities regarding diesel smuggling and price of goods to the ministry at [email protected] or call its toll-free hotline at 1-800-886-800.
