Cartels smuggle Malaysian food

Cartels smuggle Malaysian food

KUALA LUMPUR (DPA): Several syndicates are involved in smuggling food products from Malaysia, where prices are controlled to protect domestic consumers, an official said yesterday.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Megat Junid Megat Ayob said the government has identified several syndicates in the state of Malacca which have allegedly smuggled essential items such as cooking oil, flour and sugar into Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia.

Goods were smuggled because of the higher prices in those countries compared to Malaysia, Megat Junid.

"For example, the price of one kilogram of cooking oil in Malaysia is about 3.30 ringgit (86 U.S. cents) but in Singapore it is selling at 6.60 ringgit per kg. The same goes for flour and sugar," he said.