18/09/2007 (Bernama), KUCHING - The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry's enforcement division in Sarawak today refuted claims that there is a cooking oil shortage in the state.

Its director Rodin Mamat told Bernama that checks conducted by the division at the main markets here found only genuine palm oil-based cooking oil in one kilogramme (kg) packs were out of stock while those weighing five kg and 17kg were still available.

He was commenting on reports that some traders and sundry shop operators had complained of difficulty in obtaining supplies from distributors over the last few days.

Besides the palm oil-based cooking oil, which is a price controlled item and retailed at RM2.75 per kg, other cooking oil in the market are mixed palm oil, soyabean oil, coconut oil and maize oil.

Rodin assured consumers that the ministry was keeping tabs on the availability of cooking oil in conjunction with the Aidilfitri season.

-- BERNAMA