06/01/2008 (NST Online), Kuala Lumpur - There was no panic buying of cooking oil in the Klang Valley despite a move to impose a limit on its purchase.

A random check at retail outlets and hypermarkets yesterday found that most shoppers were going about their business as usual.

Some, however, were puzzled when they found that some brands, such as Sri Murni, Cap Buruh and Saji, were unavailable.

However, there were a few shoppers who decided to play it safe.

At Tesco, where every shopper was limited to two 5kg bottles of cooking oil, some brought along extra family members so that they could buy more bottles.

Others, however, did not see the need to buy extra bottles of cooking oil.

“I’m just buying a bottle in case the shortage becomes worse. I don’t understand what this wave of hoarding and panic buying is all about,” said 60-year-old Kalsom Abdul Rahman at Tesco Mutiara Damansara.

Caterer Mohd Jailani Abidin, 41, however, said he had no choice.

Spotted pushing a trolley of four 5kg bottles of cooking oil at Tesco, he was hoping he would be allowed to buy all of them.

“I don’t know whether I am allowed to buy all four but I am going to try. I usually use five a week due to the nature of my business and these are not enough,” he said.

Retiree Ghazali Ahmad believes there would be a price hike.

“I don’t know who is to blame but I fear a price hike,” said the 58-year-old who was shopping at the Bangsar Teng Mini Market Centre here.

Spokespersons from both Giant and Tesco did not guarantee a sufficient supply of cooking oil for the upcoming Chinese New Year period.

They said they were working closely with the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry to increase the amount of subsidised cooking oil they could purchase.

Meanwhile, consumer bodies hailed as “rational” the move to allow consumers to buy only up to 5kg of cooking oil.

Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) president Datuk N. Marimuthu said the amount was sufficient for a household at any one time.

“I’ve a feeling the government wants to educate the people not to overbuy essential cooking items. They are asking consumers to spend wisely,” he told Bernama.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal had said that a purchase limit of 5kg for cooking oil would be imposed beginning this week to solve the current shortage in several parts of the country.

Marimuthu said he had not received any complaints from the public on the shortage.

“From my observation, most of the complaints on cooking oil shortage came from small traders,” he said.

He urged the government to issue more permits for importers, be they individuals or companies, to import cooking oil.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia secretary-general Datuk Dr Maamor Osman said the purchase limit was to encourage consumers to lead a healthier lifestyle.

“There are many other ways to cook... not only by using cooking oil.

“Consumers can also steam vegetables if they want,” he said.

He said the 5kg purchase limit of cooking oil should be sufficient for consumers.

Dr Maamor said he noticed that corn oil was still available in hypermarkets and supermarkets.

“I think some kind of manipulation is taking place. I hope the ministry will look into ways to stop the shortage once and for all.”