JOHOR'S Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Department has stopped Singaporeans from buying palm oil-based cooking oil, local media reported on Monday.

Officers have been deployed at Johor-Singapore Causeway and Malaysia-Singapore Second Link to check Singapore vehicles leaving the country, Enforcement Director Fahmi Kassin said.

'We have also instructed supermarkets and shops to put up signs saying that palm oil-based, subsidised cooking oil is only for Malaysia. However, Singaporeans are allowed to buy other types of oil,' the New Straits Times quoted Mr Fahmi as saying.

The measure was imposed after the shortage of palm oil-based cooking oil in parts of Johor state became acute on Friday.

The shortage was especially bad in rural areas and smaller sundry shops as these traders generally did not have large stocks, he said.

Checks at a supermarket and a hypermarket showed that their stocks of oil were quickly snapped up as soon as they opened for business.

Malaysian police foil attempt to smuggle cooking oil into Thailand Meanwhile, Malaysian marine police have foiled an attempt to smuggle cooking oil into Thailand with the seizure of more than 3,800 kg valued at RM10,000 (S$4,366).

The seizure was the first made by the authorities in northern state of Kelantan. A local man in his 50s was detained, Xinhua news agency reported on Monday.

Police spotted a man riding a motorcycle near the jetty in Tumpat, Kelantan on Sunday, Pengkalan Kubor marine police assistant commanding officer Wan Ismail Wan Mamat said.

'They stopped him and found 25 boxes, each containing 17 packages of cooking oil, on him.'

'After questioning him, the officers were taken to a store nearby where they seized 209 boxes,' the New Straits Times quoted Mr Wan Ismail as saying.

Investigations showed the consignment was to be sent to suppliers in Thailand.

'The cooking oil is sold in Thailand for RM3.20 per kg while it is priced at RM2.50 here,' he said.

Malaysia is facing a cooking oil shortage crisis. Recently, the states of Kelantan, Pahang, Melaka and Kedah have been worst hit by the crisis and major supermarkets there were facing difficulty in replenishing stocks.