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MARANG – The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has directed all suppliers and companies under the Cooking Oil Price Stabilisation Scheme to expedite the packaging and distribution of the subsidised goods to avoid shortages in the market.
Ministry enforcement director Azman Adam said the issue of lacking supplies should not have arisen because the government has approved the production of 60,000 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil a month to ease the burden of consumers.
“However, due to several factors such as panic buying, there were some supply disruptions in the market. This was exacerbated by the spread of fake news about rising prices of goods,” he told reporters after inspecting the implementation of the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme at Pasar Awam Wakaf Tapai here today.
According to Azman, apart from panic buying, the full opening of the economic sector during the festive season also contributed to the supply shortage.
Meanwhile, he reminded traders not to impose certain conditions for the purchase of subsidised cooking oil as it was against the law.
“Consumers with information on such practices are urged to lodge official complaints to the ministry so that stern action can be taken against the irresponsible traders,” he said.
In another development, Azman said 80,465 business premises nationwide were inspected by the ministry from January 1 to 28.
Of that number, he said 19% or 12,834 premises were located in rural areas.
“The inspection was carried out to ensure that consumers in rural areas enjoy the same prices for essential items such as sugar, wheat flour, and cooking oil as those who live in the urban areas,” he said. – Bernama, January 30, 2022