Thai traders struggling to get subsidised Malaysian oil since border crackdown
03/02/2025 (New Straits Times), Takbai - It has become difficult to find Malaysian-subsidised 1kg cooking oil in polybags in this border town since Kelantan police cracked down on illegal crossings.
Due to difficulties in obtaining the cooking oil from Malaysian smugglers, Thai traders were forced to increase their price.
A fried chicken seller, who wanted to be known only as Mastura, 28, said enhanced border enforcement by Malaysian authorities has prevented the cooking oil from being smuggled into Thailand.
"Before the crackdown, we sold the cooking oil for RM5 per packet, but when it became hard to get, we had to raise the price to RM6.50–RM7 per packet."
Sundry shop owner Mariyam Semail, 52, said the difficulty in getting the cooking oil prompted some local traders to turn to Thai cooking oil.
However, she said, Thai cooking oil did not attract local buyers due to its higher price.
"Thai cooking oil in plastic bottles sells for 55 baht (RM7.25) per kg, far pricier than its Malaysian counterpart."
Kelantan police have cracked down on illegal crossings along the border since Dec 1.
State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat said Malaysians crossing into Thailand illegally will be fined RM10,000.
He said police hoped that Kelantan residents as well as other Malaysians would stop using illegal jetties to go to Thailand.
Meanwhile, Kelantan Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry director Azman Ismail said smugglers have faced difficulties in transporting subsidised 1kg cooking oil across the border.
"Smugglers often transport the cooking oil into Thailand through illegal jetties behind their homes.
"Some operate round the clock, taking less than a minute to cross the border."