Government to consider proposal for cooking oil pricing mechanism: Zahid

PUTRAJAYA: The proposal for a mechanism to determine cooking oil prices to ensure there is no price hike should be considered by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK).
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pix) said the suggestion which was made by a non-governmental organisation (NGO) should be brought to the cabinet to be deliberated.
"We do not want traders to use the subsidy rasionalisation to increase prices. KDNKK should collect feedback from NGOs, the media and the public on the need to have such a mechanism. After that, they should bring this to the cabinet to be discussed further," he said after the Innovation Day celebration at the Home Ministry.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also chairman of the high-level committee addressing the cost of living, was asked to comment on proposals from several NGOs for the setting up of a cooking oil pricing mechanism to prevent manufacturers and suppliers from fixing prices at will.
Ahmad Zahid, who is also Home Minister, said security at the borders should be tightened to prevent cooking oil smuggling.
"These traders are not using the normal routes but are using 'lubang tikus' to smuggle the oil to neighbouring countries. Those doing this are are not traders but smugglers by allowing subsidised goods to be enjoyed by those in other countries," he said.
However he added that so far he had not received any information on corruption at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine complexes at the borders in relation to the smuggling of cooking oil.
He said that KPDNKK and enforcement agencies at the borders should work together to prevent this from happening.
Meanwhile, on another matter, Ahmad Zahid said his ministry and its related agencies are prepared to face the coming monsoon season.
He also called on civil servants and agencies under the ministry to continue producing innovative products to further improve the delivery system for the people.