Perak Diesel Syndicates On The Rise

According to the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, there has been an increase in cases of syndicates selling subsidised diesel in Perak just in the first five months of the year.

The Perak branch director, Datuk Kamalludin Ismail saod that enforcement up until May 14 resulted in the confiscation of more than RM2.761 million in total products, the majority of which is subsidised diesel. According to Kamalludin, the total value of confiscated goods last year was RM2.050 million. "There has been a significant increase in the number of raids conducted, particularly on diesel smuggling activities."

"With more information from the public and intelligence from our intelligence team, we were able to carry out more raids," he told reporters. Kamalludin also added that several lorries used to fill up on subsidised diesel at petrol stations were also seized. Kamaluddin revealed that their their business model entails driving a lorry with a full tank to a specific location, storing the diesel, and then selling the fuel at a lower price. "However, we have increased our intel, and with more enforcement, we are able to apprehend more perpetrators."

"That is why we see an increase in the number of cases reported just in the first few months of the year," he emphasized. Kamalludin stated that whenever the price of diesel rose, these syndicates would profit by selling the subsidised diesel that they received at a lower price.  "I am confident that with our strict enforcement, we will catch more such syndicates in the coming months," he added.