Sungai Golok- Supply of cooking oil may be running low in several states in Malaysia but it is easily available in Thailand.
Consumers met here said the supply of Malaysian cooking oil remained normal although the price might be higher than usual.
A housewife known as Kak Jah, 54, said Malaysian cooking oil was her preferred choice because of its cleanliness.
"There is adequate supply although bringing in the cooking oil can be quite difficult. We have been using Malaysian cooking oil for a long time," she told Bernama here Sunday.
She said the southern Thai Malay community did not use other types of cooking oil as they were not confident of its cleanliness.
"Moreover, oil palm-based cooking oil is cheaper at RM2.90 or RM3 per kg compared to other types of cooking oil.
"There is no shortage of supply and if there is, we can still cross over to Rantau Panjang to buy cooking oil," she added.
The government has limited the sale of cooking oil to five kilogrammes per person to prevent shortage of the commodity in several states.
Meanwhile, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry‘s Kelantan branch director Che Halim Abd Rahman admitted that supply at several shops in the state had run out.
"From Jan 1 to 6, 257.46 tonnes of cooking oil were distributed in the state while its monthly consumption is 2,550 tonnes," he said in a statement today.
He advised consumers against panic buying as supply was adequate while food traders were asked to opt for industrial cooking oil although it might cost more.
Traders were also reminded that hoarding of cooking oil is an offence under the Supply Control Act 1961 and that offenders could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed three years or both.
Source: www.bernama.com.my (7 Januari 2008)
