THE Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has called on the public to serve as the eyes and ears of the ministry by reporting any shortages of bottled pure palm oil in their local areas.
This initiative aims to ensure a steady supply of cooking oil, particularly in light of the upcoming Aidilfitri celebrations.
KPDN Johor Director, Lilis Saslinda Pornomo, stressed the importance of this effort to prevent any disruptions in supply as the festive season approaches.
"We have held meetings with the three main palm oil refinery companies in Johor and engaged with several major supermarkets to discuss the local cooking oil supply issues," she explained.
"We will continue to monitor the situation regularly, and the public is encouraged to report any issues to KPDN immediately."
Lilis noted that the shortage concerns stemmed from the rising global crude palm oil prices and the government-imposed ceiling price, which has made it challenging for companies to manage their operational costs.
In response, she revealed that the government is considering offering special incentives to assist companies in increasing production and ensuring the continued supply of cooking oil in the market.
"With these intervention measures, we are confident that Johor will have a sufficient supply of cooking oil leading up to Aidilfitri and beyond the festive period," she added.
Regarding other matters, Lilis stated that KPDN Johor has not received any complaints regarding the sale of food at unreasonable prices in the state's Ramadan bazaars.
However, she assured the public that inspections would continue to be conducted regularly.
Last Saturday, Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali announced that the government's immediate intervention is crucial to ensure that there is enough bottled pure palm oil available to meet the needs of the public over the next three months. – March 13, 2025
