By Aida Aziz
Photo KPDN Perak
PARIT BUNTAR: A grocery store in the town of Alor Pongsu has been penalised after imposing conditions on the purchase of 1-kilogram (kg) packets of cooking oil.
Director of the Perak State Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Datuk Kamalludin Ismail, said that the store was raided after the Parit Buntar branch of KPDN received complaints from the public.
He stated that inspections and test purchases through Ops Samar were conducted at the store on Friday at around 10:30 AM.
“The complainant’s allegations were found to be true when we discovered that the trader had imposed purchase conditions, requiring customers to buy other items first to obtain the 1kg packet of cooking oil.
“Following this, uniformed enforcement officers entered the premises and conducted a thorough inspection.
“An inspection of the storage area and sales racks found that 164 kg of packet cooking oil was in the store’s possession,” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that a stock declaration order under Section 8 of the Supply Control Act 1961 was issued to the store supervisor.
Additionally, 164kg of packet cooking oil found was confiscated for further investigation, with the estimated value of the seizure being RM410.
Therefore, he said, the case will be investigated under the Supply Control Act 1961.
“KPDN would like to issue a warning and emphasise that there will be no compromise with those found involved in the misuse or syndication of controlled goods such as packet cooking oil.
“Furthermore, stricter actions including prosecution in court will be ensured,” he added.