07/01/2008 (Channel News Asia, Singapore), Kuala Lumpur - Malaysian retailers have begun to ration cooking oil purchases after the government imposed restrictions to curb a shortage blamed on smuggling and panic-buying triggered by price-hike rumours.

Rationing of five kilograms (11 pounds) per customer per purchase was supposed to be enforced from Monday but the state Bernama news agency said that retailers were already imposing restrictions over the weekend.

The parliamentary opposition slammed the measures, which it said were harming restaurants, consumers and vendors and was proof of the government's failure to provide basic needs for the people.

"The nationwide cooking oil shortage which plagued the country is not something new, as previously we faced similar shortages in diesel, sugar and flour supply," it said.

"The government should be ashamed ...it is a great irony that we are short of cooking oil even though we are the largest palm oil producer and exporter in the world."

Supermarket shelves were stripped of cooking oil in several states last week, with retailers not able to replenish supplies fast enough.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal, who announced the restrictions on Friday, blamed the crisis on smugglers who cash in on subsidised Malaysian oil by moving it to neighbouring countries.