18 commodities listed under festive Price Control Scheme from Dec 19-28
KUCHING: In conjunction with the Christmas festival, the Domestic Trade Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry ( KPDNKK) has listed 18 items under its Festive Season Price Control Scheme ( SKHMP) effective yesterday until Dec 28.
Its deputy director Abdul Hafiz Abdul Rahim said the scheme would run for 10 days; six days prior and three days after Christmas Day ( Dec 25) in accordance with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
He said the listed items were live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, live aged chicken (maximum price in Sarawak only), imported turkey, chicken wings ( Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan only), local bone-in mutton ( Peninsular Malaysia only), imported boneless mutton/ lamb.
In addition, imported bone-in lamb leg ( Peninsular Malaysia Only), Grade A, Grade B and Grade C chicken eggs, tomatoes, green capsicums, live pigs ( Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan only), pork ( belly), and pork (meat and fats) ( Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan only) were also included under the price control scheme.
He pointed out that prices were set following the weekly monitoring of goods price throughout the state from Jan 2015 to Nov 2016, as well as discussions between the ministry, trade and consumers groups and suppliers.
Abdul Hafiz added the maximum price was fixed for the 18 controlled items in 89 regions or areas in Peninsula; 32 in Sarawak, 27 in Sabah and one area in Labuan Federal Territory.
“It is compulsory for traders not to sell the price- controlled items above the fixed maximum price and to place special pinkcoloured price tags on the items to distinguish them from the other goods.
“Hence, traders are encouraged to sell the goods cheaper than the maximum price if the goods were obtained at lower price,” he said in a statement issued yesterday.
He said this exercise was a continuous measure to protect consumers from unethical traders seeking excessive profits during the festive season.
Abdul Hafiz said traders who sell controlled items at prices exceeding the maximum price could be fined up to RM100,000 or face imprisonment not exceeding there years or both or compounded up to RM50,000 while companies could be fined up to RM500,000.
Traders who fail to display the pink price tags for price- controlled items could be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000 while companies could be fined up to RM20,000 or compound up to RM10,000.
He added that the ministry’s personnel would be stationed at shopping areas such as main markets, morning markets and farmer’s market.
The public may channel complaints on traders not complying with the regulations by contacting 03- 8000 8000 (1Malaysia One Call Centre), Strategic Operations and Information Centre ( PIGOS) tollfree line 1- 800- 886- 800 or e-mail to e-aduan@ kpdnkk.gov. my <mailto: e-aduan@ kpdnkk. gov.my> ort SMS to 15999 by typing ‘ KPDNKK ADUAN <details of complaints>.