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Asia News Network
3 days ago
- Business
- Asia News Network
Greater oversight needed over used cooking oil in Malaysia
July 17, 2025 PETALING JAYA – As more Malaysians turn to selling used cooking oil (UCO) for extra income, stakeholders have raised concerns over how some may exploit this trend by selling new, unused oil as UCO. The government too is tightening oversight of UCO exports to reinforce governance, prevent fraud and maintain Malaysia's credibility as a trusted supplier. UCO collecters say there have been cases where some individuals try to sell new cooking oil under the guise of used oil. ALSO READ: 'We have encountered a few suspicious cases in the past,' said Hillton Lee, co-founder of Recircle, a company that simplifies recycling items, such as UCO, through a digital app. 'Such cases usually come through our customer service touchpoints or directly from collection partners.' In these instances, individuals inquire about buy-back rates and provide information for collection. 'As part of our evaluation process, we request images for verification. Some submissions clearly showed packaged or unused oil, raising immediate red flags,' Lee said. These requests are rejected as they violate industry regulations. 'Attempting to pass off new oil as used undermines the sustainability goals we're working to achieve. We take these matters seriously to ensure the transparency and credibility of the buy-back system,' she said. Subsidised cooking oil is sold at RM2.50 per 1kg packet, which could see some individuals resell it for up to RM3.50 per kilo to UCO collectors. According to the Association of Used Cooking Oil Development Malaysia, UCO is typically sold in bulk to collectors who transport it to depots for pretreatment by licensed companies. After pretreatment, the UCO is sent to biodiesel manufacturers for conversion into biodiesel. The International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC) guidance notes that the degraded properties of UCO makes it particularly suitable for specific biodiesel conversion processes. In contrast, virgin cooking oil is not classified as waste, and its use undermines the sustainability goal of transforming waste into energy. It also competes with the food supply and increases land-use emissions, counteracting the waste-to-energy conversion purpose. Dr Chatichai Chong, Arus Oil's chief marketing officer, noted that UCO generally looks darker and has higher acidity compared to virgin oil. 'However, certain oil grades also have a darker tone,' he said. Arus Oil's main UCO collections come from households, restaurants and processing factories. 'However, we have yet to encounter fraudulent cases ourselves,' Chong said. Arus Oil is licensed under the ISCC, requiring them to declare each point of origin for the used cooking oils. 'We also declare our monthly volume with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),' he added. As part of measures to prevent fraud, government agency MPOB is increasing oversight of UCO exports to strengthen governance. 'The board is reviewing standards and policies to better distinguish UCO from by-products like sludge palm oil (SPO), focusing on export integrity,' said MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir. A key initiative is the Sawit Intelligent Management System (SIMS), a digital platform enhancing traceability from collection to export through real-time data logging and source verification. 'It helps detect irregularities and supports enforcement,' Ahmad Parveez said. Exporters must meet international certification standards, such as ISCC or equivalent frameworks. Misuse of subsidised cooking oil, including its diversion into the UCO export stream, is strictly prohibited under MPOB regulations, with offenders facing penalties. When contacted, Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said it is critical to review UCO and SPO policies to avoid discrepancies and meet strict sustainability demands from overseas buyers. He added that MPOB continues to work with other regulators to monitor the industry closely.
Sinar Daily
4 days ago
- Business
- Sinar Daily
Seremban housewife turns velvet wire art into lucrative business
She first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts 20 Jul 2025 04:01pm Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama SEREMBAN - What started as a hobby driven by a passion for art has now become a lucrative source of steady income for a housewife here, thanks to her creativity in crafting flowers from velvet wire. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. "I started learning how to do velvet wire arrangements after being captivated by a tutorial on Instagram. I became interested, bought the wire, and tried it out. I saw that the results were quite good. "It was quite difficult at first, but eventually it became easier once I got the rhythm and pattern down to make creations like flowers, keychains, decorations, and bouquets,' she told Bernama when met at her home here. The mother of four said that small velvet wire arrangements can be completed within five minutes, while larger ones like bouquets take up to two hours and that her creations are sold at prices ranging from RM3.50 to RM250 depending on the type and customer request. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama She said most customers usually order velvet bouquet arrangements and decorative flowers as gifts for convocation or retirement events, as they remain beautiful and do not wilt like real flowers, making them lasting keepsakes. "Alhamdulillah, the response has been very encouraging. Every month I earn over RM1,500 from these arrangements, and once made up to RM8,000 when the product went viral on social media,' she said, adding that she runs the business from home. The Jempol native said she is one of the entrepreneurs guided by the Community Development Department (KEMAS), from which she received a one-off assistance of RM5,000 through the Quick Win Programme. Siti Amirah Pilus, 36, said she first ventured into floral arrangement in 2014 by taking orders for wedding gifts before switching entirely to crafting with velvet wire over the past three years. Photo by Bernama Siti Amirah added that she continues to actively participate in various courses organised by KEMAS, particularly for micro-entrepreneurs, to deepen her business knowledge. "My dream one day is to open a shop to sell my crafted and decorative products on a larger scale. Even if it's a small venture, I'm satisfied when my customers are happy with my handiwork,' she said. She also shared that she has no intention of letting her talent go to waste, but instead plans to use it to create meaningful products for herself and for lovers of floral art. - BERNAMA
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
MyKiosk: All Tabuan Jaya Old Market stalls taken up, Friendship Park tenants awaiting final selection
Wee speaks to reporters after the site visit. He is flanked by Zaiedi and Kho. – Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING (July 18): All 28 MyKiosk stalls at the Tabuan Jaya Old Market parking lot have now been fully taken up, said Kuching South Mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng. He pointed out the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) received a total of 53 applications for the kiosks. 'Among the 28 kiosks, there are nine fruit and vegetable stalls, 14 stalls that sell packed food and drinks, and five drink and fruit juice stalls,' Wee said during a site visit today. The project funded by the federal Ministry of Housing and Local Government allows formerly illegal hawkers and B40 traders from the surrounding area to run businesses in a legal, safe, and clean space. 'So, we must say this is a good initiative that allows the low-income traders to earn a sustainable income by operating in a regulated environment. 'We encourage residents in the surrounding area to support these traders by patronising the MyKiosk stalls here,' Wee said. In response to feedback about blocked parking spaces, he said the kiosks have been repositioned. 'We have extra car parks for the people nearby and for the people who come in to shop with the MyKiosk here,' he said. Wee (right) buys a pineapple from a trader. Also seen are Kho and Zaiedi. – Photo by Chimon Upon He shared that each stall was constructed under a transparent tender process for RM13,500, well below comparable schemes, and built to strict specifications. Traders enjoy six months' free rent, after which they pay a quarterly rental of approximately RM140, he explained. Regarding the two kiosks at Friendship Park, Wee said applications are still being evaluated. 'We must be fair to select them and to select that, you know, the one that should be there rather than having to be there. 'We don't want it to spoil the actual image of Taman Sahabat,' he said. He added MBKS will monitor all hawker centres within its jurisdiction to ensure that subsidised rents translate into genuinely affordable prices for consumers, not just benefits for traders. 'We want you to still be able to find RM3, RM3.50 kolo mee, coffee that you don't have to pay RM4.80 but just RM1 in areas like Kenyalang, Bintawa, and Sungai Apong. 'Subsidies must benefit the rakyat, not operate without purpose,' he said. He emphasised that every step, from calling tenders to selecting traders, followed established procedures designed to serve public interests. Also present were Kuching South deputy mayor Datuk Dr Zaiedi Suhaili and MyKiosk project organising chairperson councillor Judy Kho. lead MyKiosk Tabuan Jaya Wee Hong Seng
The Star
17-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Greater oversight needed over used cooking oil
Environment-friendly: Hawker Che Chin Seng, 59, weighing his used cooking oil for sale. He collected RM33 after the first transaction at the Tanjung Bungah public market in Penang by doing it the right way. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star PETALING JAYA: As more Malaysians turn to selling used cooking oil (UCO) for extra income, stakeholders have raised concerns over how some may exploit this trend by selling new, unused oil as UCO. The government too is tightening oversight of UCO exports to reinforce governance, prevent fraud and maintain Malaysia's credibility as a trusted supplier. UCO collecters say there have been cases where some individuals try to sell new cooking oil under the guise of used oil. ALSO READ: 'We have encountered a few suspicious cases in the past,' said Hillton Lee, co-founder of Recircle, a company that simplifies recycling items, such as UCO, through a digital app. 'Such cases usually come through our customer service touchpoints or directly from collection partners.' In these instances, individuals inquire about buy-back rates and provide information for collection. 'As part of our evaluation process, we request images for verification. Some submissions clearly showed packaged or unused oil, raising immediate red flags,' Lee said. CLICK TO ENLARGE These requests are rejected as they violate industry regulations. 'Attempting to pass off new oil as used undermines the sustainability goals we're working to achieve. We take these matters seriously to ensure the transparency and credibility of the buy-back system,' she said. Subsidised cooking oil is sold at RM2.50 per 1kg packet, which could see some individuals resell it for up to RM3.50 per kilo to UCO collectors. According to the Association of Used Cooking Oil Development Malaysia, UCO is typically sold in bulk to collectors who transport it to depots for pretreatment by licensed companies. After pretreatment, the UCO is sent to biodiesel manufacturers for conversion into biodiesel. The International Sustainability Carbon Certification (ISCC) guidance notes that the degraded properties of UCO makes it particularly suitable for specific biodiesel conversion processes. In contrast, virgin cooking oil is not classified as waste, and its use undermines the sustainability goal of transforming waste into energy. It also competes with the food supply and increases land-use emissions, counteracting the waste-to-energy conversion purpose. Dr Chatichai Chong, Arus Oil's chief marketing officer, noted that UCO generally looks darker and has higher acidity compared to virgin oil. 'However, certain oil grades also have a darker tone,' he said. Arus Oil's main UCO collections come from households, restaurants and processing factories. 'However, we have yet to encounter fraudulent cases ourselves,' Chong said. Arus Oil is licensed under the ISCC, requiring them to declare each point of origin for the used cooking oils. 'We also declare our monthly volume with the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB),' he added. As part of measures to prevent fraud, government agency MPOB is increasing oversight of UCO exports to strengthen governance. 'The board is reviewing standards and policies to better distinguish UCO from by-products like sludge palm oil (SPO), focusing on export integrity,' said MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir. A key initiative is the Sawit Intelligent Management System (SIMS), a digital platform enhancing traceability from collection to export through real-time data logging and source verification. 'It helps detect irregularities and supports enforcement,' Ahmad Parveez said. Exporters must meet international certification standards, such as ISCC or equivalent frameworks. Misuse of subsidised cooking oil, including its diversion into the UCO export stream, is strictly prohibited under MPOB regulations, with offenders facing penalties. When contacted, Deputy Plantation and Commodities Minister Datuk Chan Foong Hin said it is critical to review UCO and SPO policies to avoid discrepancies and meet strict sustainability demands from overseas buyers. He added that MPOB continues to work with other regulators to monitor the industry closely.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Superstar Jacky Cheung gets lesson in humility from guard
NOT everyone recognises Hong Kong superstar Jacky Cheung (pic), as the singer recounts being denied entry to his own concert in Macau, reported China Press. A security guard stopped the 63-year-old when he tried to enter the Galaxy Arena venue in Macau last week and demanded Cheung show identification indicating that he was a performer. Stunned, the 'God of Songs' pointed at a poster nearby to show that he was to perform there that evening, but the guard would not relent. 'I sincerely think he was just being very professional at his job,' Cheung said. Apparently, this was not the first time security personnel failed to recognise him. Cheung was previously denied entry at one of his concerts in mainland China. 'Don't think of yourself as a legend. Instead, see yourself as a new performer every day. Only then can you improve. 'This experience taught me to continue practising singing and learning how to do the splits. Do not worry, everyone. Jacky Cheung will not stop and will keep on working and improving,' he said. > A woman in Sibu who just wanted to buy a Nyonya meal worth RM3.50 ended up having RM17,530 from her bank account stolen, the daily also reported. The incident happened in May when the woman saw an advertisement on Facebook for a set meal for Nyonya fried chicken and vegetables for just RM3.50. She called the number on the advertisement and ordered five sets of the meal deal. The caterer later sent her a WhatsApp link to redeem vouchers worth RM30. When she clicked on the link, her phone suddenly switched off. By the time she restarted her phone, RM17,530 had been transferred out of her bank account in five transactions. Friends also alerted her that her WhatsApp account had been used to send messages asking to borrow money from all her contacts. Realising that she had been scammed, the woman then made a police report. The above article is compiled from the vernacular newspapers (Bahasa Malaysia, Chinese and Tamil dailies). As such, stories are grouped according to the respective language/medium. Where a paragraph begins with this ' >'sign, it denotes a separate news item.
