Business · Malaysia Bureau
Supermarket raided for imposing illegal conditions on cooking oil sales
Authorities have taken action against a Semenyih supermarket for requiring customers to purchase additional items worth RM300 before being allowed to buy subsidised cooking oil packets. The enforcement move highlights ongoing efforts to protect consumers from unfair trading practices.
LSN Malaysia ·
The supermarket in Semenyih was raided by enforcement officers following complaints about the illegal condition imposed on cooking oil purchases. According to the director-general of enforcement at the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN), Azman Adam, staff at the establishment were instructing customers to buy other merchandise totalling RM300 as a prerequisite to purchasing the price-controlled cooking oil.
Such practices contravene consumer protection regulations, which prohibit retailers from imposing unreasonable conditions on the sale of price-controlled items. Cooking oil remains a subsidised essential commodity, and authorities have repeatedly stressed that consumers must be permitted to purchase these items without additional requirements or bundling arrangements.
The raid underscores KPDN's commitment to monitoring retail compliance across the region. Enforcement teams have been conducting regular inspections at supermarkets and hypermarkets to ensure retailers adhere to regulations governing the sale of price-controlled goods.
Consumers who encounter similar practices are encouraged to lodge complaints with KPDN or contact the ministry's consumer helpline. The agency has warned retailers that violations of trading regulations may result in compounds, seizures of goods, or further legal action.