Price control scheme: 2,839 premises inspected statewide
SIBU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs ( KPDNHEP) inspected 2,839 premises across Sarawak as part of its efforts to ensure compliance with the Deepavali 2018 Price Control Scheme among the traders.
State KPDNHEP deputy director Md Nawawi Ab Rahman said that they had acted on one case for flouting the scheme enforced from Nov 3 till 9.
“The case was from the 630 premises inspected in Kuching, which violated Order 2(1) of the Price Control and AntiProfiteering ( Price Marking of Price Controlled Goods) Order ( No.3) 2018. The trader concerned was compounded RM100 with goods confiscated valued at RM600. There were no cases in other places,” he said here yesterday.
In giving the breakdown of the cases, Md Nawawi, who is also state KPDNHEP chief enforcement officer, disclosed that 274 premises were inspected in Sibu, Miri (140), Limbang (142), Lawas (72), Bintulu (344), Sri Aman (301), Kapit (310), Sarikei (443) and Mukah (183).
During the enforcement period, increasing the price of the gazetted items constituted an offence under the Price Control and AntiProfiteering Act 2011.
Upon conviction, an individual can be fined up to RM100,000 or sentenced to three years’ jail, or both; or face a compound of up to RM50,000. Companies, on the other hand, can be fined up to RM500,000 or imposed with a compound up to RM250,000.
For failing to display pink price tags for the gazetted items, an individual is liable to be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000 upon conviction, while companies can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000.