KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 9 — The government has been urged to standardise the price of bottled cooking oil in the country, as well as draw up a price list to prevent traders fixing their own prices.
Secretary-general of the Malaysian Consumers Association (Maconas) Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said the government should immediately create a mechanism to determine the price of cooking oil.
He said the list of prices could be issued monthly like that of petrol and it should be standardised, regardless of whether the oil is sold in supermarkets or sundry shops.
“Most consumers are not aware of the price of cooking oil. So the list will make it easier for them to decide when making their daily purchases,” he told Bernama today.
The issue of cooking oil arose after the government’s announcement that bottled cooking oil weighing more than 1kg would be sold according to market prices from November 1 while the price of 1kg-packets would remain at RM2.50.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Muslim Consumers’ Association (PPIM) chief Datuk Nadzim Johan urged the government to set a ‘recommended retail price’ (RRP) for bottled cooking oil so that consumers are not cheated.
He said the RRP would be a guide to consumers who could make a better decision before purchasing cooking oil.
President of the Malaysian Consumers Protection Association (PPPM), Datuk Mohd Firdaus also reminded consumers to always be alert and intelligent when choosing cooking oil based on price and their needs.
“Consumers must think if they want to buy packet or bottled cooking oil. This is because there are many brands in the market and each has a different blend of oil,” he said. — Bernama