412 compounds issued to traders over Hari Raya period

JOHOR BARU: A total of 412 compounds were issued to sellers, traders and farmers nationwide for various offences committed regarding the sale of controlled items during the Hari Raya period.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry enforcement director Mohd Roslan Mahayudin said the offences included excessive price hikes, not displaying price tags and not labelling controlled items with pink tags between June 16 and July 6.

The compounds came up to RM59,940.

“We also seized some RM40,807.49 worth of items during our inspections at 37,694 premises, including markets, farms and mini markets,” he said.

During that period, he said the ministry received 47 complaints from the public, friends of the ministry, consumer squads, Rela members and others.

“Those who hike prices may be charged under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act,” he told reporters after inspecting the prices of goods at Econsave Taman Daya here yesterday.

Mohd Roslan said the ministry received complaints that the price of chicken in Kelantan had increased to RM9 per kilo after the festive season even though the ceiling price was RM7.90.

He said throughout the festive season, the ministry had issued 94 notices to farmers, traders and sellers for hiking the price of chicken.

“A total of RM2,100 worth of compounds were issued during 6,136 inspections at farms, wholesale markets and mini markets,” he said, adding that last year there were 181 cases with compounds totalling RM28,300 issued.