KPDN Seizes 1,899 LPG Cylinders In Batu Gajah

BATU GAJAH, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) seized 1,899 cylinders of 14-kilograme (kg) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at an illegal storage facility in the Bemban Industrial Estate here, yesterday.

The ministry’s Perak enforcement director, Datuk Kamalludin Ismail, said the raid was conducted at about 6.30 pm following intelligence information and a week-long monitoring of activities at the premises.

He said the enforcement team discovered 1,899 LPG cylinders believed to be used in illegal decanting activities, where gas from subsidised 14-kg cylinders is transferred into other tanks.

"A total of 1,899 LPG cylinders were found, comprising 871 filled 14-kg cylinders and 1,028 empty ones. About 18,194 kg of LPG was seized, with an estimated value of RM66,508," he told reporters during an inspection at the raid site today.

Kamalludin said investigations revealed that the syndicate’s modus operandi involved purchasing subsidised 14-kg LPG cylinders from across Perak and other states, then transferring the gas into other tanks for distribution to industrial users for commercial purposes.

“At the current price, subsidised LPG in 14-kg cylinders is sold at RM1.90 per kilogramme, while the market ceiling price for LPG is RM5 per kilogramme.

“This price gap creates an opportunity for the syndicate to make a profit by selling subsidised gas to the industrial sector at a rate lower than the market price,” he said.

Kamalludin added that a 53-year-old local man, believed to be the owner of the premises, along with five Myanmar nationals aged between 25 and 45 who worked there, have been detained to assist with the investigation.

Further checks also revealed that the premises, which had been operating for the past month, did not possess any valid documentation under the Supply Control Act 1961 to handle transactions involving controlled goods.

-- BERNAMA