KUALA LUMPUR — Putrajaya has decided against increasing the quota for subsidised cooking oil, with Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh assuring Parliament that the current 600 metric tonnes per month is sufficient to meet demand.

Fuziah explained that, based on data from the Department of Statistics, the average household consumes about 4.8kg of cooking oil monthly, and the bottom 80% of households use 30.3 metric tonnes. Additionally, hawkers and night market traders, categorized as part of the “micro-industry,” consume 21,285 metric tonnes per month.

The government is also working on a mechanism to prevent supply leakages, potentially using identity cards for distribution starting with a pilot project in 2025. Fuziah revealed that 16 companies have been suspended, and 30 others had their quotas revoked for violating rules.