KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism ministry will get additional cooking oil supply in the east coast to be distributed in the west coast here.
Its director Yahya Sulaiman said by distributing the 1,603 metric tonne of cooking oil stock in Sandakan could help to address the demand.
Besides that, he said the ministry had also taken action against two wholesalers in Sandakan and Tawau for selling cooking oil with inappropriate pricing and labelling.
“Our checks revealed that they sold cooking oil meant for export at local market but with export prices.
“Some of them also labelled them in litre, instead of the standard measurement which is in kilogramme,” he said after State Community Development and Consumer Affairs minister Datuk Jainab Ahmad Ayid’s walkabout for price control scheme at a supermarket here.
Yahya said although there was no shortage or quota for people to buy the cooking oil packs, he advised them not to buy in bulk as it would affect the supply.
He assured the ministry would continue to monitor profiteering and smuggling activities for the well-being of consumers.
As of today, the state ministry had taken action in 945 cases involving seizure of RM3.286 million.
“We have issued RM544,000 worth of compounds and collected fines amounting to RM314,000.
“Meanwhile, the public should lodge reports on any wrongdoing by business operators instead of spreading messages that will give space for perpetrators to escape before action can be taken against them,” he said.
Earlier, Jainab said 13 items had been listed as controlled price items including chicken, eggs, imported lamb, tomato, green pepper and pork.