Kelantan KPDN reduces smuggling of 1kg cooking oil polybags to Thailand
10/09/2023 (New Straits Times), Kota Baru - Ops Bersepadu caried out between Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) and other agencies managed to reduce the leakage of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg polybags to the neighbouring country.
Kelantan KPDN director Azman Ismail said apart from the ministry's enforcement officers, the operation also involved officers of the General Operations Force, the Marine police and the Armed Forces.
"I admit that it is not easy and almost impossible to curb the 1kg cooking oil in the polybags from being smuggled across the border.
"But our on-going Ops Bersepadu and increased checks have successfully reduced its leakage and prevent the subsidised item from being sold in markets in the neighbouring country," he told New Straits Times.
Azman expressed confidence that attempts by certain quarters to smuggle the polybag cooking oil would continue to fail as the officers would inspect the border round-the-clock.
"The agencies involved in Ops Bersepadu will conduct a 24 hour operation along the Kelantan/Thai border not only to prevent 1kg cooking oil in polybags from being sent across the border but also other Malaysian subsidised items," he added.
Meanwhile, checks at Takbai market showed that few traders sold the 1kg cooking oils at their stalls.
When interviewed, the Thai traders claimed they were facing some difficulties to get the supply from their counterpart in Malaysia.
The traders sell the 1kg Malaysia cooking oil in polybag for RM5 each, about RM2.50 cheaper than the price sold in Malaysia.
For many years, the 1kg cooking oil in polybags from Malaysia received high demand from Thai people as they claimed the cooking oil from Malaysia was good quality.