KUNAK: Consumers here now have difficulty in getting their supply of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg packets as all retail premises have run out of them, a check on Tuesday revealed.
As such, the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) office in Semporna which oversees Kunak is doing all it can to ensure that consumers will get their supply soonest.
“Action has been taken by our supply unit on this matter. Supplies have run out due to high demand lately and as such, the retail outlets here have run out of stock,” a KPDNHEP Enforcement Division spokesman said when contacted by Daily Express, Tuesday.
He explained that 1,234 packets of 1kg each were supplied to the outlets in Kunak on Monday but due to high demand they ran out fast.
“That volume was not sufficient for local demand,” he said.
However, 2,116 bottles of cooking oil which were unsubsidised were available and the Price Control Unit of KPDNHEP has been monitoring the situation in Kunak since Monday, he added.
A survey by the Daily Express found that retail outlets, including supermarkets here, only have cooking oil in 2kg, 3kg and 4kg bottles.
They only have cooking oil of the Maize and Sunflower brands, it was found.
Meanwhile, more than 230 metric tonnes of subsidised cooking oil have been supplied to target groups in the Sandakan district so far, said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry Sandakan branch.
Its Chief Azdy Zukkry John said the distribution of subsidised oil in packets was initiated in April under the Sandakan Prihatin Keluarga programme.
“The programme is the Sandakan branch of the Ministry’s own initiative, aimed at distributing subsidised basic necessities to target groups,” he said.
“Since the programme started, some 234.6 metric tonnes of subsidised cooking oil have been successfully distributed not only to shops in Sandakan but also nearby rural districts such as Beluran, Kinabatangan, Telupid, Tongod and the Sapi Nangoh area,” he added.
He said the programme had a positive impact on the community, particularly those in rural areas.
“For me, villagers and rural residents deserve to enjoy the subsidy so we will continue this effort for the foreseeable future,” he told reporters after distributing 250 boxes of subsidised cooking oil to six appointed wholesalers in Bandar Sandakan.
Meanwhile, he said, supermarkets in Sandakan will begin receiving the packets of oil in stages this week.
He advised business operators to be responsible traders by ensuring that such items are always available to consumers.
This can be achieved if the businesses planned ahead by asking for additional stocks to be delivered before their current supply ran out.
“The Ministry is always ready to help supermarkets and businesses from a supply aspect as well as to provide advice when needed,” Azdy said.
