SG BESAR – The government, through the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP), will conduct a study to set a ceiling price for 5kg bottled cooking oil based on the current market price.
Its deputy minister Datuk Rosol Wahid said his team will also discuss the recommended ceiling price with both the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry and Finance Ministry.
“Meetings will be held on how to overcome this problem (increase in cooking oil prices).
“We will see the decision (adjustment of the ceiling price of cooking oil) in the meeting later,” he told reporters after visiting and inspecting cooking oil supplies and compliance to standard operating procedures (SOPs) here today.
He said cooking oil has experienced price hikes due to an increase in the price of crude palm oil.
“I assure you that the government is working hard to ensure people are not affected by the Covid-19 situation,” he said.
Rosol also denied an opposition representative’s claims that the 1kg oil units subsidised by the government are recycled oil.
He also said that a total of 590,876 business premises, including petrol stations, restaurants, supermarkets and shopping malls, have been inspected to date.
“There were 346 compounds issued on offenders who did not comply with the prescribed SOPs. KPDNHEP issued 160 compounds during the total lockdown period from June 1 to 11 (yesterday), involving a total value of RM1.091 million.
“Based on statistics, the compliance rate in the distribution trade sector is satisfactory, with 98.52% of premises complying with the SOPs, while 0.1% of premises were issued with compound notices. The remaining 1.32% were let off with a warning,” he added.
Meanwhile, he said that about 50% of KPDNHEP enforcement personnel have been vaccinated through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme.
Rosol said the ministry has requested the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry to include its personnel as vaccine recipients.
He added that there are currently 2,200 KPDNHEP enforcement personnel nationwide.
“Priority will be given to them as they are always in contact with members of the public,” he said, adding that the vaccinations are given under Phase 2 of the immunisation programme, which began on April 19. – Bernama, June 12, 2021
