LABUAN: The supply of subsidised items, especially cooking oil, is sufficient here for the fasting and Hari Raya festive season, said Labuan Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry.
Its acting director Aslani Dabi said more supply of cooking oil was being sent to Labuan to meet the shortage.
“Labuan needs around 168 metric tonnes of cooking oil per month and earlier we found that we have a shortage of 68 metric tonnes, which caused problem to the consumers here.
“We have appointed an agent to transport those 68 metric tonnes from Sandakan to meet the monthly demand for cooking oil here.
“This week we are expecting to have 6,300 kilos of cooking oil in plastic bags and by next
week another 8,500 kilos will arrive,” he said, adding that 17,000 kilos of cooking oil in
plastic bags would arrive next month.
Aslani added if there was still a shortage of cooking oil, it would be probably due to hoarding by irresponsible traders.
He urged the public to report to his office if they found out any hoarding of subsidized items.
Meanwhile, 42 small traders here received assistance from the Bazaar Micro-i Financing Scheme to open up stalls during this coming Ramadhan.
They received the aid from Aslani at the Labuan Corporation on Tuesday.
“We have received around 54 applications for this scheme and after the processing, only 42 were approved,” said Aslani.
He said the scheme was introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak early this month for stall operators to sell food and drinks during the fasting month.
Bank Rakyat will issue a maximum interest-free loan of RM3,000 to the qualified recipients and they have to pay back the amount within two months after the fasting month.
Aslani reminded the stall operators to adhere to the rules by putting up price tags for their food and drinks.
Also present were the officer of Labuan Parliamentary Community Service Centre, Khalid Abdul Ghani, Labuan Consumer Movement Council chairperson Hjh Fauziah Datuk Mohd Din and Labuan Bank Rakyat manager Kamarudin Ibrahim.