Relieved consumers hope for fast solutions over bottled cooking oil shortage

JOHOR BARU: Consumers are relieved that the government is taking steps to stabilise the supply of bottled cooking oil in the market and hope that quick actions can be implemented.

Homemaker Siti Nadirah Mohd Noh, 41, hopes the cooking oil shortage will be resolved before Hari Raya Aidilfitri as demand is expected to rise.

“My family usually uses the 2kg bottles of edible palm oil but it has been hard to come by these days.

“I went to several sundry shops in the Larkin area last week and could not find any. In the end, I managed to find a shop that sells subsidised cooking oil packets and bought two packets as we are only limited to two per family,” said the mother-of-two.

Siti Nadirah expressed concern over the cooking oil shortage, adding that low-income families like hers could not afford to buy alternatives to palm oil, such as canola oil, due to the much-higher price.

“The cost of living in Johor Baru has been rising steadily and we are worried about our food security if the situation does not improve,” she added.

Another consumer, Lee Siew Chin, 37, said the government’s special incentives, if given to companies to tackle the issue, should be utilised wisely to ensure the supply of bottled cooking oil returns to normal.

“I found it strange when I saw empty shelves at the cooking oil section at a hypermarket near my house.

“I stocked up on a 5kg bottle of cooking oil because I don’t want to end up without any cooking oil at home since I cook quite often,” said the tuition teacher.

Lee also hopes that the authorities could step up enforcement to ensure there is no hoarding or leakage of cooking oil.

“The people’s right to food should be safeguarded, and basic items such as cooking oil and rice should always be available,” she added.

Siti Nadirah and Lee were responding to Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali’s announcement that special incentives may be given to companies to ensure there is enough supply of bottled cooking oil.

It is among the intervention measures decided on following a special briefing with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to stabilise the supply of the product.