Domestic trade and consumer affairs minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said the government was still looking into the best possible method.

He said several recommendations were given to prevent leakage in the wholesale purchase of goods, including subsidised cooking oil in 1kg polybags in the market.

“One person is only allowed to buy two packets (of cooking oil in polybags) but some consumers, after making their purchase, will go to another store and buy some more. We are aware that this is happening.

“With the smartphone app, we may be able to track and prevent further purchases. This applies not only to cooking oil but other subsidised items as well,” Bernama reported him as saying.

In warning industry players not to get involved in misappropriation of subsidised and controlled goods, Nanta said he would not hesitate to suspend their company licences if they are found guilty.

Meanwhile, at a separate press conference, Nanta said the ministry’s role in determining the ceiling price of chicken was focused on enforcement in ensuring that traders adhered to the stipulated ceiling price.

He said an engagement session was held today with poultry industry players as well as senior officials from his ministry and the agriculture and food industries ministry to discuss the issue

Yesterday, Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that the price of chicken in the market would not be floated so as not to burden the people.