Domestic Trade Ministry sec-gen says ready to cooperate in cooking oil subsidy probe
16/04/2023 (The Star Online), Petaling Jaya - The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is ready to cooperate with any party related to the alleged overpayment of RM9mil in cooking oil subsidies, says its secretary-general Datuk Azman Mohd Yusof.
Sinar Harian reported Azman saying that he was called by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) last year to give his statement about the process related to the distribution of subsidised cooking oil.
"I am ready to provide if more information is needed. So far, I have cooperated with Bukit Aman, which is investigating cases related to the smuggling of cooking oil and diesel,” said Azman.
He added that he chaired the committee on the leakage, adding that he accepts the challenge to do his best.
Azman said this when speaking to the media after the ministry's buka puasa event with the media at Zaha Places in Ipoh, Perak on Saturday (April 15).
He was commenting in response to news reports that the ministry spent excessively on cooking oil subsidies last year, leading to an official investigation.
At an earlier press conference, Azman said that the excess payment of RM9mil in cooking oil subsidies never happened as claimed by a news portal.
Instead he said the subsidy payment is made below the actual amount according to the quota of 60,000 metric tonnes of subsidised cooking oil set.
He said that his ministry monitors the distribution of subsidised cooking oil in the market before subsidy payments are made.
"We control this subsidy payment. Based on last year's performance, (the payment) did not directly exceed the value of 60,000 metric tonnes. So, we are not paying more,” said Azman.
"We have to see the difference between theoretical thinking and practicality. Practicality is slightly different in terms of implementation," he added during a survey on the maximum price scheme for Hari Raya Aidilfitri implementation at a supermarket in Ipoh.
Also present was the Perak ministry director Datuk Kamalludin Ismail.