Govt sets aside RM15mil a month to maintain bottled cooking oil prices

 Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali says it is part of the strategy to overcome the rising cost of goods by ensuring stable prices.

Domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said the allocation takes into account the upward trend in crude palm oil prices since June 2025.

PETALING JAYA:

The government has approved a monthly allocation of RM15 million to maintain the ceiling price of bottled cooking oil, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said.

Armizan said the decision was made at a Cabinet meeting earlier this month.

“This is part of a strategy to overcome the rising cost of goods by ensuring stable prices amid the repercussions of the Middle East conflict,” he said in a statement today.

The ceiling retail price for a 1kg bottle of cooking oil is RM6.90, 2kg (RM13.30), 3kg (RM19.60) and 5kg (RM30.90).

Armizan said the Cabinet decided on setting aside the monthly sum after taking into account the upward trend in crude palm oil (CPO) prices since June 2025.

“This trend is expected to prolong and would increase the financial pressure on the manufacturing industry, which has forced some to halt production,” he said.

He said CPO prices stood at RM4,400 a tonne in October, which would have led to a 5kg bottle of cooking oil being retailed at RM34.

“The government, therefore, needed to intervene to prevent any disruption to supply and price instability,” he said. - FMT