GEORGE TOWN, July 1 – The Federal Government is urged to make careful consideration before making any important announcements to avoid confusion among the people and result in panic buying cooking oil. Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia deputy president Oh Tong Keong said the factor that caused the panic buying of cooking oil and confusion among the people was that there was a discrepancy between the statements made by the Prime Minister.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs and the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities, because the people did not know which side they should trust. Earlier, the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Domestic Trade announced that the subsidy for bottled pure cooking oil for 2 kilograms (kg), 3kg and 5kg would be abolished with effect from July 1, but the Ministry of Plantation and Commodities said the federal government remained with the cooking oil subsidy.
He said most consumers were not sure whether the cooking oil subsidy would be abolished, they were worried about the increase in cooking oil prices so they rushed to the mall to buy cooking oil yesterday. He said, according to news reports, the supply of cooking oil is enough to meet the demand of the domestic market, consumers do not have to rush to buy. In addition, Lotus Supermarket also issued a statement that the supply of pure cooking oil in 1kg and 5kg bottles is sufficient at all branches, so consumers do not have to buy cooking oil in large quantities.
He hoped that the federal government could issue a comprehensive, complete and clear statement on the issue of pure cooking oil subsidy so that there would be no panic buying. In addition, Oh also urged the Ministry of Trade and Consumer Affairs to pay attention to the shortage of 1kg bottled cooking oil in the market which is sold at RM2.50.
People also complain that there is no supply of 1kg bottled cooking oil in the market, but it was found that some traders sell cooking oil in large quantities online at RM2.50 under government subsidy to make more profit. With this, he opined that the ministry concerned should take immediate action, stop this situation from continuing, and impose stern punishment on irresponsible traders in order to protect the rights and interests of consumers.
