[UPDATED] Don’t make vague complaints on prices, supplies, minister tells public

SIBU – The public is urged not to lodge vague complaints on supply issues or price of consumer goods.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said such complaints cannot help his ministry determine whether an issue has really occurred.

He said the ministry welcomes any complaints related to consumer goods with seven channels set up for them to do so.

“Let’s make complaints based on facts. Don’t just say there is a problem and make a report without facts. This does not help us in our investigation, ” he said after visiting a warehouse owned by a wholesale company here today.

He was asked about people who prefer to complain about the high price of cooking oil through social media platforms as opposed to using the channels provided by his ministry.

The Kapit MP said every complaint made would be followed up by an investigation by uniformed ministry officials such as price monitoring officers or consumerism officers appointed in each parliamentary constituency.

His ministry and the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation have also called on industry players to put a fair price on cooking oil following the drop in world crude palm oil prices.

“This should not be placed on the shoulders of the wholesalers alone, but the refineries should do the same so that the price of retail cooking oil also goes down,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a post on his Facebook page later today, Nanta said the price of bottled cooking oil at the retail level was beginning to go down, following the decline in the price of crude palm oil (CPO) in the market to RM3,814 per tonne yesterday – the lowest since July 2021 – while the highest price of RM8,076 was recorded in March.

According to Nanta, based on his ministry’s price simulation prior to this, the current CPO price (RM3,814.50) should cause the price of a 5kg bottle of cooking oil to be marketed at the retail level at around RM30.65.

However, he said the “reflection” or direct effect of the CPO price reduction on the retail price appears to be happening very slowly.

Accordingly, he said the Special Task Force on Jihad Against Inflation had emphasised to the industry that any reduction in the price of CPO should have a direct impact on the price of bottled cooking oil at the retail level.

“There should be no parties trying to delay the price change according to the CPO, with the excuse of wanting to finish the older supplies.

“Based on engagements with the Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry, I was informed that efforts are currently underway to change the purchase price of fresh fruit bunches on a weekly basis, instead of monthly,” he said, adding that through the effort, any direct impact on prices can be seen within an average of a week to a week-and-a-half, compared to between two to two-and-a-half months now. – Bernama, July 22, 2022