Nationwide audits and legalisation of cooking oil manufacturers, packaging premises to be carried out

PUTRAJAYA - The government will conduct a comprehensive audit and legalisation of 22 manufacturers and 305 packaging premises of cooking oil packets nationwide.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the operation aimed to find out the actual status of how many packets were produced by manufacturers and packagers with complete information of the recipients of subsidised oil.

"The government has ordered authorities from the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, police and Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) to carry out the raids at the packaging factories up to the country's borders to ensure there are no irregularities," he said in a statement after presiding the National Cost of Living Action Council (NACCOL) meeting earlier today.

He said the action was taken to ensure the allocation of subsidised cooking oil worth RM4 billion was channelled towards reducing the burden of Malaysian Families and the efforts to prevent leaks in the distribution of subsidised oil.

"Strict measures including cancelling the quota and license given to manufacturers and packagers will be taken to overcome the leak of subsidised cooking oil distribution.

"Statistics currently show the distribution of subsidised cooking oil packets in the country totalling to 60,000 metric tons a month which is more than the usage of households in Malaysia.

"The meeting also agreed that food security must be a priority in the context of Homeland Security to overcome the rising cost of living issue," he said.

Ismail Sabri said the government at the same time would strengthen the Keluarga Malaysia Sales Programme (PJKM) to sell necessities at a cheaper price.

"PJKM will involve strategic cooperation with Parliament members, state assemblymen and local authorities along with institutes of higher education throughout the country," he said.

He said the program would be led by KPDNHEP, Agriculture and Food Industry Ministry, Entrepreneurs and Cooperation Ministry and the Federal Territory Ministry were included in the moving concept.

"The government will introduce the Keluarga Malaysia Menu in cooperatives’ restaurants, cafeterias and food premises in institutes of higher education as an alternative for breakfast, lunch and dinner at a cheaper price," he said.

Ismail Sabri said the government was always listening to Malaysians and are working towards ensuring the cost of living issues could be solved as best as they can.