The prices of goods continue to rise, the people are getting more and more squeezed, but the quota of subsidized cooking oil remains the same. Putrajaya is confident that 600 metric tons is enough – but enough for whom?
Putrajaya insists that there will be no additional quota for subsidized cooking oil, even though small traders and B40 households will have to share the same supply of cooking oil.
Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, Fuziah Salleh, said the quota of 600 metric tons per month is enough, based on data showing that B40 households use around 30.3 metric tons per month, while micro traders use 21,285 metric tons.
The government is currently actively studying strategies to develop new mechanisms to prevent leakage, including the possibility of using special identity cards to ensure that only those eligible for the subsidy receive it.
The pilot project is expected to start in 2025.
In an effort to tighten control, 16 companies have been suspended and another 30 have lost their quotas after being found to have violated regulations.
But is this 600 metric tons enough? With demand continuing to increase, is this a real solution or just another bureaucratic burden that will inconvenience the people?
