He confirmed there was a shortage of subsidised Grade A, B and C eggs as well as subsidised cooking oil in 1kg polybags.

The minister said on his way to work this morning, he decided to stop at a grocery store and public market, without being accompanied by enforcement officers.

“I deliberately did not inform my ministry or the enforcement division because I did not want it to be like a ‘party’ event.

“I was only accompanied by my driver and an escort officer who acted as a cameraman and videographer,” he said in a statement here today.

Salahuddin said tomorrow he would call a joint meeting with the agriculture and food security ministry regarding the supply of subsidised eggs in the market.

He said at the same time he would instruct his ministry’s enforcement division to solve the problem of subsidised cooking oil in 1kg polybags.