Bringing M’sian cooking oil to neighbouring countries not a small issue

GOLOK, THAILAND – Practical and easy to obtain. That is what was found through the investigation by Sinar Harian reporters regarding the supply of subsidised packets of cooking oil weighing one kilogramme (kg) from Malaysia sold in Padang Besar, Thailand.

Sinar Harian reporters disguised as tourists in a shopping area on the Perlis-Thailand border located about two kilometres (km) from the Padang Besar Immigration, Customs and Quarantine Complex (ICQs) on Tuesday.

At an early stage, the plan to survey the supply of cooking oil in the neighbouring country’s market was almost unsuccessful when taxi drivers refused to send journalists to the country’s border once they knew the team’s destination.

The taxi driver said the issue was dangerous and big as the sale of packets of cooking oil from Malaysia was believed to be under the purview of gangsters.

However, a taxi driver agreed to take the reporter all the way to the Thai border when informed they only wanted to shop in Padang Besar, Thailand or known as Siam town, bordering Perlis-Thailand, before travelling to Hatyai.

Upon setting foot in the business area, it was found that the area was deserted, there were only one or two visitors from Malaysia as it was a working day.

Most traders declined to answer questions when reporters asked about packet cooking oil.

They only responded when reporters pretended to be tourists to buy other items.

Undercover, Sinar Harian reporters found that one kg of subsidised cooking oil from Malaysia was sold openly at several grocery stores here.

More surprisingly, most shops sold one kg packets of cooking oil and five or 10kg bottles just like in Malaysia and they were placed openly in boxes along with other necessities such as onions and biscuits in front of about five grocery stores in the area.

Some traders put a 55 baht price tag on a packet cooking oil, however, some do not put any price tag and will only inform customers when asked.

Through an interview with a local trader who only wanted to be known as Siti, the cooking oil package was indeed the focus of the locals.

“Yes, we do sell packet cooking oil from Malaysia because the price is cheaper than cooking oil in this country.

“We sell packaged cooking oil at a price of around RM6 or about 50 baht only,” he said.

When reporters wanted to buy the cooking oil, the trader was amazed.

“Isn't there a lot of cooking oil in Malaysia, why buy here?" he asked.

When informed that packet cooking oil was hard to find in Malaysia, the traders were shocked as they had never had a problem with the stock.