SAIFUDDIN: COMPLAINTS ON PRICES AT EATERIES
However, ministry checks reveal none increased prices indiscriminately
THE first day of the Sales and Services Tax (SST) implementation yesterday went smoothly, except for complaints on the prices of food in restaurants throughout the country.
However, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister (KPDNHEP) Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, said this had been addressed by his officers and himself.
“It was explained that the restaurants could impose the tax, and checks revealed that the prices on the receipts were correct and the outlets were not increasing their prices indiscriminately.
“I have instructed the National Price Council, which has more than 1,000 price checkers, to focus on food outlets to ensure that business operator do not cheat,” he said at a press conference on Enforcement of Pricing Under the Pricing Operations 5.0 here yesterday.
Earlier, Saifuddin visited a Toyota vehicle maintenance company, Syarikat Telagamas Motor Sdn Bhd.
Present were the ministry’s enforcement director Datuk Mohd Roslan Mahayuddin, Kedah Customs director Datuk Johari Alifiah and Kedah KPDNHEP director Mohamed Fitri Hassan.
Saifuddin said beginning yesterday, his ministry would carry out Operasi Catut 5.0 nationwide, which was a continuation of Operasi Catut 4.0 which began on June 1.
“We will conduct checks and enforce action in all business chains in the country, and take legal action against those who do not comply,” he said.
This includes pricing or gaining exorbitant profits under Section 14 (1) of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, price tagging, or vague signs of price, receipts and invoices.
Saifuddin said the ministry had started an operations room that would operate from 7am to 10pm for the public to lodge complaints and make enquiries through the toll-free line 1-800-886-800.
People can email their complaints to the ministry’s official portal http://eaduan.kpdnkk.gov. my, SMS to 15888 by typing KPDNKK ADUAN, via the smartphone application EzAdu KPDNKK, as well as via the KPDNKK Twitter and Facebook accounts.
“However, complaints must be clear and detailed, such as the name and address of the venue, details about the goods and prices, as well as receipts for us, to investigate.”
He said the role of the ministry was to tackle profiteering and price-manipulation activities to ensure that there was no wanton increase of prices of goods, especially involving stocks during the zero-per cent GST period.
He said the ministry would introduce laws that controlled the prices of services for vehicle maintenance so that consumers were not burdened.