ATTRACTIVE OFFER: Wan Uzir (left) shares a light moment with Sim (second right) and Lau (right) while Balraj looks on.
SIBU: Consumers should think twice about buying cooking oil packages which are surprisingly cheap as it could be recycled oil.
Advising members of the public to be smart consumers, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (MDTCC) state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman cautioned against consuming such oil.
Wan Uzir reminded consumers to take necessary precautions although there were no cases of recycled cooking oil being sold by businesses reported in the state.
“Recycled cooking oil is harmful as it can cause ailments such as cancer and serious problems to liver.
“We advise consumers to be extra careful if they note of very cheap cooking oil, usually in packet form.
“So, consumers should be wary if they are priced at, say RM1 per packet compared to the normal one at RM2.50,” he told a press conference after officiating at the launching of the back-to-school campaign at Star Mega Mall here yesterday.
Consumers, he added, could lodge reports at their office and bring the product with them if they were suspicious of its content.
He added that it was not easy for the ministry to take action as they were uncertain about the brands involved.
He, however, said they could either invoke the Trade Description Act 1972 or Consumer Protection Act 1999 against unscrupulous businesses if the content listed on the packet differed from the test carried out.
“If it is listed on the packet that it contained protein, but the laboratory test proven otherwise, stern actions can be meted out,” he pointed out.
“This is tantamount to providing misleading information or false claim and a direct contravention of Trade Description Act 1972 where upon conviction, traders can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed three years or both.
“As for a subsequent offence, they can be fined up to RM250,000 or jailed five years or both,” cautioned Wan Uzir.
Among those present were Sibu Resident Sim Kok Kee, MDTCC Sibu branch chief Balraj Singh, Daesim group chairman Lau Ngie Hua and Daesco Sdn Bhd executive director Lau Khian Chung.
Meanwhile, Miri head of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism, Zakaria Awang, said recycled cooking oil contained water molecules and was not as thick as the fresh one.
“I believe housewives know better which cooking oil is fresh and which one is recycled as they use them every day,” he said.
Zakaria also warned traders and operators of food outlets and eateries not to use recycled oil when preparing food for their customers.
He was speaking at the presentation of ‘Fair Price Shop Award’ (supermarket category) to Emart Supermarket in Miri yesterday.
On another subject, Zakaria said the ministry had yet to produce the list of controlled items for Christmas and Chinese New Year celebrations.
“Once we have it we will certainly enforce the new price five days before the festivals,” he said, adding that supplies for the two celebrations were sufficient at the moment.