From Klang Valley to Kelantan, subsidised cooking oil abundant in Pekan Golok

 

Despite the government’s RM1.5 billion subsidy allocation and border control measures, the oil is not reaching its intended recipients, raising questions about enforcement and ongoing smuggling.

If consumers wish to purchase the subsidised 1kg cooking oil packets at supermarkets, they are usually limited to just one or two packets per person.

The same applies to convenience stores and grocery shops.

In fact, supply is difficult to obtain, and some retailers are even selling it above the government-controlled price of RM2.50 per packet.

A Malaysiakini survey, beginning with supermarkets around Selangor and later in Kelantan, generally found that this subsidised cooking oil is not easily accessible to consumers.

Checks at convenience stores in Petaling Jaya and Puchong showed that only one or two boxes are delivered each week.

A salesperson in his 30s, who wished to be known as Raja, said that a box containing 17 packets of subsidised cooking oil would sell out within an hour.

“We only get one or two boxes a week, and even that is not guaranteed.

“If we have stock, it’s gone in an hour. We have to limit purchases so more people can get it,” he said.

The same situation was observed at small shops in Kota Bharu and Machang, Kelantan.

This was outside of the large supermarkets, where even there, only one or two packets are limited for each buyer at a time.

Different scene

While this may be an open secret among Malaysians, a very different scene can be observed across the border in the neighbouring country, around Sungai Golok, Narathiwat.

The Rantau Panjang-Golok border entry

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This daily essential, highly sought after by Malaysians, is believed to be smuggled into Thailand and is easily found at shops throughout the border town.

There is no limit on purchases, and it is sold at more than double the original price.

A trader there in his 40s, who identified himself as Shakori, said he receives 20 to 30 boxes of cooking oil per week from his suppliers.

He said the retail price ranges from RM6 to RM7 per packet, depending on availability.

“If there’s plenty of stock, we also sell it by the box for around RM95 per box.

“This Malaysian packet oil is popular here because it’s cheaper than locally produced bottled cooking oil,” he said.

A fried chicken vendor in Sungai Golok, who declined to be named, said he uses Malaysian cooking oil to reduce his costs.

He claimed he could save around RM4 compared to using Thai bottled oil.

“Supply is easy to get, plenty of shops around here sell it.

“We use Malaysian oil because it’s cheaper, and there’s no problem with its quality,” he said.

Target group not benefiting

This situation shows that despite the Malaysian government allocating over RM1.5 billion a year for cooking oil subsidies, the benefits may not be truly reaching the intended groups.

The initiative aimed at supporting B40 households continues to face leakages, despite reports of various measures and efforts to prevent smuggling.

Last May, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said that 134 illegal bases on the country’s border had been shut down.

He said these involved high-risk smuggling routes in border areas, particularly along Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok.

The question remains as to how smuggling, which deprives Malaysians of their rights, remains rampant despite Putrajaya’s stated strong commitment to fighting corruption. - Mkini