Ministry all out to ensure traders comply with price control scheme

MIRI: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) Miri branch yesterday pledged that it will go all out to ensure that all traders here adhere to the Chinese New Year Price Control Scheme.

Speaking t o r ep or t e r s after inspecting Emart Riam supermarket in Riam, branch head Joe Azmi Jamil told reporters that his men had been instructed to go all out every day to make sure that traders do not increase the prices of the controlled items.

The 12 items under the price control scheme are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, grade A, B and C chicken eggs, imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing cabbage), garlic ( China), white pomfret, large prawns, pork (threelayered) and pork intestine.

“Based on our visit to Emart Riam today, we found out that all 12 items listed under the scheme are sold at a reasonable price,” Joe Azmi said.

He also noted that there was sufficient stock of all the controlled items to last throughout the festival.

When asked on whether the department had received any complaints on the shortage of cooking oil, he said there was sufficient stock, including the ones sold in plastic packs.

“These 12 items are labelled with the pink tag and if any trader (including small shops and supermarkets) fails to label these items accordingly (with pink tag), KPDNKK will take action against them,” he said.

On another note, Joe Azmi said they had opened a customer service counter which operates daily from 8am to 11am at Krokop market in conjunction with the CNY festival.

He advised members of the public to lodge complaints about price hike at the counter or call their office at 085- 412862.

The festive price control scheme started yesterday and will end on Feb 3.

Emart Riam branch manager Tan Soon Wee was present during the inspection.