Bangkok: The Thai Sang Thai Party has urged the government to swiftly address the issue of rising palm oil prices, which are significantly impacting both the cost of living for citizens and the operational costs for businesses. They have also raised concerns about possible beneficiaries of the situation and demanded an investigation into any potential misconduct.
According to Thai News Agency, Ms. Traichat Thanasarntraiphop, deputy spokesperson for the Thai Sang Thai Party, highlighted the widespread repercussions of increasing bottled palm oil prices on the general public and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). She attributed the continuous price hike to two primary factors: reduced palm oil production caused by unpredictable weather and an uptick in global demand for palm oil.
Ms. Traichat emphasized that the escalating palm oil prices are burdening individuals, particularly low-income groups, with increased living costs. Small businesses, including restaurants and SMEs that depend on palm oil as a key raw material, are also struggling with higher production costs, leading some to raise product prices or, in extreme cases, shut down operations.
The deputy spokesperson criticized the government's previous efforts to address agricultural product issues, pointing out the ineffective resolution of the farmer mob problem as an example. She suggested that if the problem remains unresolved, the relevant ministers might need to assume responsibility.
The Thai Sang Thai Party called on Members of Parliament, especially those in the Ministry of Commerce, to acknowledge the rising cost of living issue and advocate for immediate measures to deliver effective solutions. They also urged the government to investigate and make public any information regarding individuals who might be profiting from the rising palm oil prices, and to implement fair pricing measures to protect consumers. Additionally, they demanded clear policies to prevent a recurrence of such issues in the future.
Ms. Traichat warned, "If there are no serious measures to manage palm oil prices, the public should keep an eye on whether anyone is secretly benefiting from the inside."