KOTA BARU: Malaysia's subsidised cooking oil, both bottled and in 1kg polybags, continue to be smuggled out of the country due to high demand from Thailand.
Recently, Malaysian cooking oil could only be seen in stalls and sundry shops in the Takbai and Sungai Golok towns, which border Kelantan, but now, the cooking oil can also be found in more southern Thailand provinces and sub-provinces, such as Narathiwat and Yala.
Thais said it was not surprising that Malaysian cooking oil had reached southern Thailand.
"Malaysian cooking oil, especially the 1kg polybags, have been sought by Thais over the years because they are cheap and good quality compared with cooking oil produced in Thailand," said a housewife who only wanted to be known as Asmat, 45.
Narathiwat native Ajis Derahman, 47, who is self-employed, said Thais were realising that the cooking oil was not produced in Thailand and was smuggled in.
"We have no choice. Malaysian cooking oil is much cheaper than those sold in Thailand.
"Although Thai traders may hike up the price of Malaysian cooking oil, it is still reasonable compared with the price of Thai cooking oil, which can be RM1 to RM3 more."
He said many Thais wondered how Malaysian cooking oil could reach Narathiwat and Yala.
"Sometimes we talk about this. We have even asked Thai traders and suppliers how they can get the Malaysian goods.
"Many of them tell us that the shallow Sungai Golok and lack of enforcement by border agencies of both countries allow for the rampant and easy smuggling of Malaysia's controlled items, like cooking oil."
A survey at the Narathiwat wet market on Saturday found that Malaysian cooking oil of various brands and volumes were being sold at several stalls.
A trader, who only wanted to be known as Aida, 21, said she had been selling cooking oil in 1kg polybags for five years.
"Most of my customers are petty traders who sell pisang goreng and keropok at Narathiwat beach."
A survey at the Takbai wet market, which is opposite Pengkalan Kubor, Tumpat, found only a few stalls and shops selling Malaysian cooking oil.
Unlike traders at the Narathiwat market, traders at the Takbai market said they had been facing problems getting the controlled item in the last few months.
"We believe it is because Malay-sian border agencies are stepping operations against cooking oil smuggling," a trader said.