Time to feast: Muhammad Ikhwan (right) said he planned ahead to secure cooking oil for his Nasi Arab business.
JOHOR BARU: Faced with a cooking oil shortage, some Ramadan bazaar traders here are forced to visit multiple supermarkets to secure enough supply.
Fatimah Sarudin, 36, said she first noticed the cooking oil shortage at the end of last year, with the severity fluctuating over the past few months.
“The problem has been on and off since the end of last year. Sometimes, I can get a 5kg bottle of cooking oil with ease, but other times, I need to visit two to three supermarkets just to find one.
“At times, I also have to opt for more expensive cooking oil as it is the only option,” she said.
Fatimah, who runs a stall at a Ramadan bazaar near Angsana Mall, said the shortage has further increased her operation cost.
“There are many factors contributing to the rising prices of food at Ramadan bazaars. This is just one of them.
“However, we cannot raise prices too much, as it will drive customers away. The only thing we can do is absorb the extra cost as much as possible,” she said.
Mohd Hisham Karim, 47, who sells burgers at another Ramadan bazaar nearby, said he has also struggled to find cooking oil over the past few months.
“I hope the authorities will do something about this as soon as possible. It has been going on for months but is only getting attention now.
“For now, I am still able to get cooking oil despite some difficulties. However, if no quick action is taken, I believe this will escalate quickly, especially with Hari Raya approaching.
“I am not increasing the price of my burgers just because of this issue, but I may have to if the situation worsens,” he said.
Muhammad Ikhwan Osman, 34, said he has yet to be affected by the cooking oil shortage as he has kept an ample supply to last at least until next week.
“I have enough cooking oil for now, as I do not need much to make the Nasi Arab I sell at the bazaar.
“However, I am keeping a close eye on the matter and making early preparations to ensure I have enough supply throughout Ramadan,” he said.
The Star had previously reported that consumers in various parts of Johor have struggled to obtain cooking oil, especially 1kg and 2kg local bottled ones.
