Kuala Lumpur: A total of 283 premises of imported rice packers and manufacturers were inspected in Ops Campur as of yesterday, said Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Dr Fuziah Salleh. She noted that the inspection also resulted in 99 cases of rice samples being seized for further action with a value of RM29,374.90.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the seizure is intended for sampling and quality determination, which will be submitted to the Malaysian Chemistry Department and the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI). Enforcement actions under Ops Campur are being implemented on imported rice packers and manufacturers, in accordance with the Trade Descriptions Act 2011 (Act 730).

Dr Fuziah made these remarks while winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's Address on the ministry at Dewan Negara today. The enforcement of Ops Campur includes legislation under Act 730, stating that legal action will be taken against any party found making false trade descriptions regarding content, type, or name under Section 5 of Act 730.

Addressing the concerns of certain parties regarding subsidised cooking oil being used by non-citizens, Dr Fuziah mentioned that the Cooking Oil Price Stabilization Scheme (ECOSS) System would be improved this year. She announced that ECOSS will be extended to consumers, with its pilot starting this year, and is being developed to ensure that only Malaysians can purchase it.

Dr Fuziah explained that previously the ECOSS system functioned to track the cooking oil chain from refinery to retailer levels, but when it reached retailers, a log book was used. This has made it difficult to trace possible leakages in the process.