Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today urged consumers not to hoard cooking oil and resort to panic buying.

He said that the public should not panic over the limit imposed on the purchase of cooking oil. He added that a rush for the commodity would only worsen the situation.

“That is why the Ministry (of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs) had imposed a limit on the purchase by any individual.

“Actually, if we don't indulge in `panic buying', and there is no hoarding, there will be adequate supply of cooking oil. There's only a shortage when there is excessive demand,” he was reported as saying in Bernama today.

Yesterday, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs imposed a limit of five kilogrammes for the purchase of cooking oil by any individual at any one time effective Monday.

Promoting healthy lifestyle

Meanwhile Bernama also reported that consumer bodies had hailed the ministry’s plan to set the 5kg purchase limit of cooking oil for consumers from next week.

Federation of Malaysian Consumer Associations (Fomca) president N Marimuthu said five kilogramme of cooking oil was sufficient for a household at any one time.

"I've a feeling the government wants to educate the people not to over-buy essential cooking items. They are asking consumers to spend wisely," he told Bernama.

Muslim Consumers Association of Malaysia secretary-general Dr Maamor Osman added the purchase limit was to encourage Malaysian consumers to lead a healthy lifestyle.

"There are many other ways consumers can cook... not necessarily only by using cooking oil. They can also steam vegetables if they want," he said.

He said the 5kg purchase limit of cooking oil was sufficient.