A high-ranking official at the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry allegedly overspent on cooking oil subsidies last year, prompting an official investigation.

Industry sources told Malaysiakini that during the transition of government last year, the ministry’s secretary-general Azman Mohd Yusof approved the subsidy totalling about RM9 million to over 20 companies even though the quota has already been exhausted.

In two letters sighted by Malaysiakini, Azman’s office gave approval to two of these companies on Nov 21, last year. It says the government will supply the two companies with 150 tonnes of subsidised cooking oil per month...