According to a report in The Sun , a petrol station in the outskirts of Kuala Lumpur has been trading in diesel at a volume of 5,000,000 litres per month, earning at least RM2 million in profits monthly.

It seems this exceptional trading activity has been going on without questions from the suppliers as well as from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, until the recent fiasco involving a shortage of diesel . A simple inquiry would have raised suspicions and warranted quick action. Those responsible ought to be sacked or charged for complicity.

Given this huge amount of diesel involved, it is practically impossible to unload it at the petrol station and transport it elsewhere. This gives rise to the suspicion that the diesel was actually sent direct to the industrial users at a higher price. Based on the records of the movements of oil tankers of the suppliers, this can easily be confirmed.

I am sure the public would like to know what action has been taken against such operators, their accomplices like the tanker drivers and those involved at the supplier end. Evidence of profiteering - or more like piracy to me - must be available given the huge amount involved.

The operators of the petrol stations also must be charged in court.

How could the ministry officials ignore all the tell-tale signs of profiteering for so long? The lack of controls and enforcement has actually given time to a group of profiteers to take full advantage of the situation until the government realised its folly and felt the pinch.