13 goods under price control
NILAI: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has listed 13 goods under the Festive Season Price Control Scheme in conjunction with Chinese New Year, which falls on Feb 16 and 17.
Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the scheme will be in force for 12 days, from Feb 10 to 21.
The goods are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, chicken eggs grades A, B and C, round cabbage imported from Indonesia and China excluding Beijing cabbage, garlic (from China), white pomfret, large white prawns and pork.
“Traders are required to sell the 13 goods at prices lower than the maximum and must affix the pink price tag to differentiate them from other products,” he said at a press conference.
The scheme covers 91 districts in Peninsular Malaysia, 32 in Sarawak, 27 in Sabah and one in Labuan.
Hamzah said the scheme was enforced to keep prices and supply stable.
He also said that the maximum prices were set by taking into account the factor of change in prices, especially for imported goods.
Traders who fail to comply with the price control regulations would be liable to a fine of up to RM100,000 or sentenced to a maximum of three years jail or both upon conviction.
Individuals could be compounded up to RM50,000 while companies could be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.
“Traders who fail to affix the pink price tags can be fined RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000. Companies can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000,” he said.
Hamzah said the ministry, with the cooperation of the people, would conduct aggressive monitoring to protect consumers from profiteering by unethical traders.
Traders and consumers can check on prices of the goods at the ministry’s website at www. kpdnkk.gov.my.
Earlier, Hamzah visited the Malaysia Halal Analysis Centre (MyHAC) at Bandar Enstek. He was accompanied by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and director-general of the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia Tan Sri Othman Mustapha.
Hamzah said he made the visit to understand the procedure at the MyHAC laboratory in analysing the contents of a product. – Bernama