Be wary of unscrupulous traders , warns ministry
SIBU: Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ( KPDNKK) is urging members of the public to be their eyes and ears to help keep tab on unscrupulous traders who are taking advantage of the festival to shortchange consumers.
According to KPDNKK Sibu chief Kasim Mana, traders should not sell the gazetted items under the Christmas Price Control Scheme 2016, enforced from yesterday to Dec 28, beyond the stipulated ceiling prices.
In this regard, traders must clearly display pink price tags for these gazetted items, he said.
He warned errant traders of stern action under Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“Report to the ministry if you notice hikes in prices of the items gazetted under the festive control scheme.
“For selling above the gazetted prices, an individual can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed not more than three years or both upon conviction, or compounded up to RM50,000; companies on the other hand, can be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded not more than RM250,000.
“As for failure to display pink price tags, an individual can be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded not more than RM5,000 whereas, companies can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000.
“Thus far, traders here have been giving good cooperation to the ministry and we call for such effort to be sustained to benefit the consumers,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
“In view of the coming festive celebration, consumers are advised to be wary of unscrupulous traders out to profiteer or shortchange consumers either on product quality, or cheating on weight and measure.”
Meanwhile, KPDNKK Sibu deputy chief Ganda Jirap led a team comprising enforcement and price-monitoring officers to check on the compliance with the festive scheme at Sibu Central Market yesterday afternoon.
The 10- day festive scheme is also applicable in Kanowit and Selangau besides Sibu.
The retail prices for the 17 gazetted items are live chicken ( RM6.70/ kg), standard chicken (complete with head, feet, liver and gizzard) at (RM8.50/kg), super chicken (without head, feet, liver and gizzard) at ( RM9.50/kg), live old hen ( RM6.70/ kg), imported turkey ( RM32/kg), chicken wing ( RM12/ kg), imported bone-in mutton (RM25/kg), imported bonein mutton leg ( RM40/ kg), Grade A eggs ( RM0.37 each), Grade B eggs ( RM0.36 each), Grade C eggs ( RM0.35 each), tomato ( RM7/kg), green pepper (capsicum) ( RM13/ kg), pork ( belly) ( RM19/ kg) and pork (lean and fat) (RM18/kg).
For enquiries, the public can call the ministry’s hotline at 1800 886- 800 or Sibu office at 084329202. Those who are Internetsavvy, can drop their complaints at e-aduan@ kpdnkk.gov.my