Enough essential goods for Hari Raya, Kaamatan
TAWAU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs ( KPDNHEP) has advised businessmen to not increase prices of goods or hoard controlled items in conjunction with the Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Pesta Kaamatan celebrations.
Its enforcement deputy director (Special Operation Branch) Haji Rosli Ahmad said this was to ensure the public and community can buy the essential goods at reasonable prices.
He said the ministry’s enforcement officers had checked and monitored supplies to ensure there are no shortage during the Hari Raya Aidilfitri expected early June and Pesta Kaamatan on May 30 and 31 celebrations.
“Monitoring by enforcement officers found that essential goods for both the celebrations are sufficient and there are no shortages, especially sugar, flour, cooking oil and others,” he said after inspecting controlled goods at retailer Joo Loong Trading Sdn Bhd yesterday.
Rosli said from the statistics gathered by KDPNHEP, it found that retailers had sufficient stocks for these goods.
He said the district’s has five main retailers for sugar and flour, and five retailers for packaged cooking oil.
He said there are 2,700 metric tons (M/T) of sugar, 1,220 M/T of flour and 724 M/T of cooking oil for the district.
For the period between May 1 and May 13, he said checks by Tawau KPDNHEP showed goods sold were 1.8 M/T (sugar), 207 M/T (flour) and 142 M/T (cooking oil). The areas supplied include Kunak, Semporna, Lahad Datu, Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan and Tamparuli.
To ensure the supplies of these goods are sufficient, he said KPDNHEP here had appointed 14 retailers to ensure consumers would be able to get the essential goods, especially during the celebrations.
He said consumers should not panic if they could not get these supplies from ordinary shops, as they could get their supplies from Giant, Servay and selected sundry shops.
Rosli warned businessmen against hoarding the essential goods as if they were caught they would be charged under Section 15 of Control Supply Act 1961 which provides a RM100,000 fine and imprisonment of not less than three years.
He added consumers could channel their complaints or questions at E-aduan KPDNHEP, call center at 1-800-886-800, email at e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my, Ez Adu KPDNHEP application (smart phone), WhatsApp 019-2794317 or go to the nearest KPDNHEP office.