KUALA LUMPUR – The decision to end subsidies on bottled cooking palm oil effective this month should not be interpreted as a lack of empathy and care on the part of the government, said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry deputy minister Datuk Rosol Wahid.
Rosol told the Dewan Rakyat today that the subsidy programme implemented between August 2021 and June this year was meant to reduce the people’s burden.
“The move was to cushion the impact on the rakyat following the spread of Covid-19 and soaring global prices of crude palm oil.”
He reiterated that the government maintained the subsidy for the 1kg packet cooking oil, allowing it to be sold at RM2.50 each.
Rosol was responding to a question from Datuk Ahmad Jazlan Yaakub (Machang-BN) on whether the ministry intends to continue subsidising bottled cooking oil until the end of the year amid increasing prices of basic goods.
To a separate question by Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail (Kulim Bandar Baru-PH), Rosol said his ministry is currently in discussion with the Plantation Industries and Commodity Ministry on possibly offering different prices for local and foreign markets.
“However, there has not been any consensus yet on the matter,” he said to the proposal for a cheaper cooking oil price for Malaysians, and a higher price for exported goods.
Meanwhile, Rosol said a total of RM382.1 million was spent on subsidies for bottled cooking oil during the 11-month period.
In a statement last month, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi announced the government’s decision to end all subsidies on bottled cooking palm oil effective July 1, as the implementation was only meant to be temporary.
The prices were previously capped at RM29.70 for 5kg bottles, RM18.70 (3kg), RM12.70 (2kg), and RM6.70 (1kg).
Nanta had said with the end of the subsidies, the government could focus its efforts to helping others in need through other targeted assistance. – The Vibes, July 25, 2022
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