BUKIT MERTAJAM: The rush to buy cooking oil following speculation the price might increase due to the removal of subsidies has led to many feeling disappointed, including traders who were forced to limit their sale to customers.

A sundry store owner in Kam­pung Baru market, who declined to be named, said she was forced to limit the sale of cooking oil to new customers as most of her stock were “reserved” for her regulars.

“Many new faces have turned up at my stall wanting to buy cooking oil. I have stock but in limited quantities, and my supplier has warned me that supply will be reduced next month.

“For the past 10 years, I’ve been taking 20 boxes equivalent to 340 bags of 1kg cooking oil a month but the supplier is now telling me that the next shipment will be reduced by 20% and there will be no supply of bottled cooking oil.

“I am not hoarding but I need to ensure that I have enough cooking oil for my regulars especially food sellers who are my neighbours here,” she said, adding that for every 1kg packet of cooking oil sold at RM2.50, she only made 5% profit.

A check by The Star at several sundry shops and mini markets showed that the 1kg polybags of cooking oil were still available but the purchases were being limited by the operators.

At a mini market in Alma, shelves for 3kg and 5kg of cooking oil were empty while customers were only allowed to buy up to five polybags of 1kg cooking oil.

Factory canteen operator Sajan Kassim, 38, said he used to visit the outlet to buy cooking oil in bulk but now he had to go to different stores to purchase more.

“My canteen requires a box of cooking oil or 17 polybags of 1kg a day. The news on the removal of subsidies has led to panic buying. I hope the Government will delay the subsidy removal as our economy is still unstable at the moment,” he said.

Businessman M. Nagarajan, 37, who will be celebrating Deepavali, said his family had to source for cooking oil from several places.

“Every year, we make lots of cakes and muruku for our relatives, and this requires cooking oil,” he said.

Meanwhile, Penang Hindu Association (PHA) deputy president P. Murugiah in a statement urged the Government to rectify the cooking oil shortage immediately by continuing with the subsidies.

“The relevant authorities should also ensure that wholesalers and traders do not hoard cooking oil, which is the most important ingredient for the preparation of food especially during this festive season,” he said.