Traders warned not to raise prices of plastic drums
SHAH ALAM: With water disruptions expected to take place in various locations in the Klang Valley today, concerns have grown that unscrupulous traders may hike up prices of plastic water containers.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution said the ministry would not compromise on cases of profiteering, even though water containers were not classified as price-controlled items.
“We will take action against traders who arbitrarily raise prices. If we detect any incidents, our enforcement officers will come down hard on these traders,” he said after the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s Bizfair event in Shah Alam.
The minister also urged members of the public to inform the authorities if they uncover evidence of profiteering by traders.
“The ministry’s Selangor enforcement team yesterday (Monday) conducted checks at 73 premises which sell plastic water containers.
“They will continue to monitor the situation until the water disruption period is over,” he said.
The ministry had conducted a series of checks at several retailers in the Klang Valley. However, the checks, led by the ministry’s Kuala Lumpur enforcement chief Azeem Nazuri, found that although demand for plastic water containers had skyrocketed, traders were retaining their previous prices.
“Today (Yesterday), we conducted an inspection at a plastics goods supplier in Jalan Kepong. We found that the seller had maintained the prices.
“Since Monday, our enforcement team had checked five premises. We do not want to see traders or suppliers jack up prices due to the rising demand for plastic containers for the impending the Klang Valley water disruption.”