By Christopher Lidom
KUCHING, June 25: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) is working on a method to control the purchase limit of subsidised cooking oil, and other subsidised goods, via mobile application.
Its minister, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, explained that the app would tell consumers if they have already purchased the subsidised cooking oil to prevent them from making another purchase in other stores.
“This is only for subsidised cooking oil and other subsidised goods,” he said after visiting a cooking oil packaging premises at Jalan Penrissen today.
He said this following the discontinuation of subsidies for bottled cooking oil, which he explained was to prevent certain parties from misappropriating and smuggling it.
Nanta said the subsidies for bottled cooking oil are also a temporary programme implemented during the movement control order (MCO) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are no longer in MCO and are currently in the endemic phase. So everyone can go out, and there is no need to buy cooking oil in a 5kg bottle to be stored for a long time because you can buy cooking oil in 1kg polybag packages priced at RM2.50, which is cheaper,” he added.
He opined that the matter is taken out of context and is too politicised.
He explained that following the discontinuation of bottled cooking oil subsidies, the government did not keep the money (subsidy) but was returned to the ‘rakyat’ through other means.
“I appeal to all, especially consumers, to not be easily confused by those with other agendas,” he said.
At the same time, Nanta also warned the cooking oil industry players not to take advantage of the situation.
“I will not hesitate to cancel their permit if they are found guilty,” he said.
On June 22, Nanta announced that the subsidies for bottled cooking oil, including ceiling price for chicken and chicken eggs, will not be continued effective July 1, 2022. — DayakDaily
