PETALING JAYA: A grocery shopkeeper in Melaka has been arrested for selling subsidised cooking oil at RM3.50 per packet compared to the original price of RM2.50.
The trader, who is in his 40s, was also found to be giving priority to other traders to purchase the subsidised packets over consumers, Bernama reported.
A trade ministry official said an officer in plain clothes posed as a customer at the shop. “And at that time, there was only one packet left. The oil was sold at RM3.50 per pack while the price set by the government is RM2.50 per pack and can only be sold to ordinary consumers, not to food traders,” the domestic trade office here said.
The offence carries a maximum penalty of a fine of up to RM1 million or up to three years’ jail.
The shop was among 14 raided following complaints over the difficulty in obtaining 1kg packets of subsidised cooking oil.