Cooking Oil Rationing Begins

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 4 (Bernama) -- From next week, a customer will only be able to purchase a maximum of five kilogrammes of cooking oil at any one time.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal in making the announcement on the rationing of cooking oil today, said it was necessary in facing the cooking oil shortage crisis in the country.
He said that among the immediate steps being taken to address the crisis was increasing cooking oil production capacity by 10 per cent from the 48,988 metric tonnes monthly now to 53,886 metric tonnes a month.
"This is not the first time we are conducting a rationing exercise for controlled items. We did the same when there was a similar crisis involving sugar," he told a press conference here today.
Earlier, he had held a meeting with cooking oil producers and officers from the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB).
Lately, several states were reported to have run out of cooking oil stocks causing consumers to become worried.
Among the states worst hit were Kelantan, Pahang, Melaka and Kedah with newspapers reporting major supermarkets in them were experiencing difficulty in replenishing stocks.
Shafie added that his ministry was fine-tuning details on the enforcement of the rationing to ensure its objectives were met.
He blamed leakages in the distribution chain for the crisis.
"Cooking oil smuggling is a major cause of this crisis, and as such, I ask the Customs Department and the Anti-Smuggling Unit to help us in overcoming it," he said.
Shafie also said that mushrooming of super and hypermarkets and small and medium enterprises had caused an imbalance in supply and demand.
"As a long term measure, we will review the distribution chain and if necessary tighten laws on it," he added.
He also advised consumers not to panic as it would only worsen the situation.

tunku : this is always a tactic to increase the price.we produces lots of palm oil and yet shortage in cooking oil.smuggling too can be a factor but what are the authorities doing about it. the ministry should review and change the distribution chain right now and don't just wait and see.we, the consumers are always on the losing side.