3,903 metric tonnes of subsidised packet cooking oil quota revoked
20/03/2024 (New Straits Times), Kuala Lumpur - The monitoring conducted by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry saw a total of 3,903 metric tonnes of subsidised packet cooking oil quota revoked as of Jan 1, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.
Deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said of the total, a quota of 100 metric tonnes was revoked in Negri Sembilan; 1,828 metric tonnes in Sabah and 1,972 metric tonnes in Johor.
"In addition to the revoking of the cooking oil quota, the ministry also suspended the packaging licences of companies that violated the regulations.
"As of March, the government is paying only 59,774 metric tonnes of subsidised packet cooking oil," she said in her winding-up speech on the supplementary supply bill.
She said a total of 256 cases of cooking oil leakages were recorded last year, valued at RM3.54 million.
"The eCOSS system allows us to track the delivery journey of the oil from the oil refining companies, repackaging companies, wholesalers and retailers.
"If we get to know that they are smuggling the subsidised cooking oil, action will be taken against them such as to suspend, cancel, and revoke the licences granted," Fuziah added.
Earlier, members of Parliament who took part in the debate raised several issues on the subsidised packet cooking oil.
Cha Kee Chin (PH-Rasah) raised the difficulty in obtaining packet cooking oil in the market.
"Based on my observations, the packet cooking oil stocks only last for a few hours at the supermarket or mini market.
"Where have all the 60,000 metric tonnes of packet cooking oil gone to?
Meanwhile, Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) asked if the ministry has plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) to track the packet cooking oil, subsequently preventing leakages and smuggling.
"Maybe by placing a chip on the packets of subsidised cooking oil. By doing so, we can track whether the packet cooking oil is at Pulau Sebatik, Golok or Hatyai."
He also suggested a price increase from RM2.50 per packet to RM3.50 per packet, to prevent it from being smuggled.