ALOR STAR: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs Ministry has been urged to introduce a mechanism to prevent repackers, which have been given a specific quota to supply subsidised cooking oil in the state, from selling their products to retailers in other states.
Kedah Industry and Investment, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, and Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMTGT) chairman, Datuk Dr Ku Abdul Rahman Ku Ismail said each state is given a specific quota for subsidised cooking oil and as such, it is important that the cooking oil reaches the targeted consumers.
"The 14 appointed repackers in Kedah were given a quota to produce only 2,100 tonne of subsidised cooking oil in total per month.
"However, we are aware that some of these repackers are also providing their products to retailers in neighbouring states such as Perak, and Perlis. And unfortunately for the time being, we do not have any laws to restrict them from doing so.
"There is a need for the ministry to come up with a mechanism to resolve the issue as we need to ensure that the supply of cooking oil in the state is sufficient and all 2,100 tonne of subsidised cooking oil reach consumers in the state," he said.
Abdul Rahman was speaking to the media during an inspection at a hypermarket and two cooking oil repacker factories here today.
Also present were the ministry's Kedah director Mohammad Fitri Hassan and the ministry's state enforcement chief, Shahrudin Hamzah.