PETALING JAYA: Following reports about cooking oil shortage in Johor, retailers and consumer groups are urging the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDN) to take action to prevent disruptions for Malaysian consumers.
Datuk Ameer Ali Mydin, managing director of Mydin Hypermarket, said the shortage is being observed nationwide.
“We became aware of the shortage early last month,” he said, adding that Mydin was not the only retailer forced to place limits on their cooking oil sales.
Ameer, who is also advisor of the Bumiputra Retailers Organisation, said consumers were horrified by the sight of empty shelves last weekend.
He shared concerns about how the lack of supply was impacting consumers during the peak season of Ramadan and how it might, if left unresolved, affect the upcoming Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.
“The government needs to be more proactive,” he added, emphasising the need for the relevant authorities to provide information on any action being taken to address the shortage.
He also expressed frustrations about the prioritisation of cooking oil exports over supply in the domestic market.
“We are the second largest country in the world for exporting cooking oil, but we can’t find it in our own country?”
Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) chief executive Saravanan Thambirajah, however, said Fomca has not yet received any consumer complaints about a shortage, but stressed the importance of resolving the matter soon.
“Ensuring a stable supply of essential commodities like cooking oil is vital for consumer welfare and market stability.
“Delays in resolving such shortages can lead to increased prices and burden consumers, especially those from lower income groups.”
Like Mydin, Thambirajah believes the solution to the shortage lies in clearly-communicated, meaningful efforts from KPDN.
“Fomca urges the ministry to implement effective monitoring and enforcement measures to ensure subsidised cooking oil reaches its intended recipients.”
As at press time, KPDN had not commented on the matter.
Meanwhile, in Labuan, KPDN director Junaidah Arbain assured the public that the supply of essential items such as sugar, polybag cooking oil, and flour remained sufficient despite increased demand during Ramadan.
Junaidah, however, acknowledged concerns raised by Ramadan bazaar traders over the lack of cooking oil supply in recent weeks, but clarified that wholesalers who have not received their stock of polybag cooking oil would receive their supply by the second week of March.
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