JOHOR BARU: It has been difficult for consumers to find 1kg and 2kg bottles of local cooking oil in various parts of Johor.
Checks by The Star at sundry shops and supermarkets in Larkin, Tampoi, Pasir Gudang and Kulai found empty shelves as retailers say the cooking oil has been out of stock since the beginning of the year.
Wong Kok Wai, who owns a second generation wholesale and sundry shop here, said his stock has been low since January as suppliers stopped supplying the 1kg and 2kg bottles of the edible palm oil.
“A 1kg bottle of palm oil retails at around RM6.90 while a 2kg bottle is priced at RM12.70.
“At the moment, we have other options like peanut oil, canola oil, corn oil and sunflower oil, which cost almost double compared to palm oil.
“Our supply of the RM2.50 subsidised cooking oil packets is still steady,” he said when interviewed.
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Wong, who is also Johor Federation of Grocery and Sundry Goods Merchants Association secretary, added that the shortage of the bottled cooking oil was a nationwide problem, probably due to the “all-time high” crude palm oil prices.
Snap it up: Wong tending to a customer purchasing subsidised cooking oil packets.— THOMAS YONG/The Star
“The global market price for crude palm oil is expected to go up RM5,300 per tonne. Previously, the highest price was RM3,800 per tonne.
“Factories are reluctant to increase production because selling at government-controlled prices is not profitable for them.
“The 5kg bottled oil is still available at RM30.90, but supply is limited,” he said, advising consumers to buy only what they need.
Checks at several hypermarket and supermarket chains found a shortage of 1kg and 2kg bottles of palm oil, while 3kg and 5kg bottles were available.
General manager of a supermarket chain, Mas Imran Adam, said the cooking oil supply problem began in December.
“In January, we received only 25% of our usual supply. If we normally get 1,000 tonnes, this time we received only 250 tonnes,” he said.
“Many of our branches are affected. Some outlets may have only one type of cooking oil in stock, while others have none at all. The 1kg and 2kg cooking oils are particularly scarce,” he said.
Another supermarket owner Tiong Foo Kai said there was an unexpected increase in demand for cooking oil of late.
“Normally, our supply of 250kg of packet cooking oil can last a week, but now a week’s supply will be snapped up within an hour.
“Even with a purchase limit of three packets per person, customers are coming in groups to buy in bulk.
“We receive at least 2,000kg of cooking oil per month so the supply is there, but we do not understand why people are panic buying,” he said.
When contacted, Johor investment, trade, consumer affairs and human resources committee chairman Lee Ting Han said the state government is aware of the issue and is looking into it.
He said Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi has been alerted on the matter.
“We will call up the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry to look for solutions, for example channelling supply to more populated areas or adjusting the current supply and quota system.”
