Prices of goods under control— Tan
KUCHING: Prices of goods in Sarawak are currently under control, says Dato Stanley Tan the Sarawak director of Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs.
This, he said, was due to continuous monitoring carried out by the ministry to ensure that traders comply with the zero per cent GST.
“We are monitoring the zero GST compliance and based on our checks at business premises from time-to-time throughout Sarawak, the prices of goods are under control and are reasonable,” he told a press conference after presenting prizes to winners of the School Consumers Club Consumers Interactive Challenge 2018 for South Zone at Reservoir Park here yesterday.
Tan also called on the people to make a report if they come across traders who charge exorbitant prices for their goods.
He gave an assurance that the ministry would provide immediate feedback on every complaint it received by conducting inspections on the unscrupulous traders.
“If the traders are found to have charged unreasonably, we will file a show- cause notice seeking for clarification.
“Many traders have so far been warned to give their cooperation,” he said, adding there were also factors such as logistics that caused prices of some goods in Sarawak to be high.
Tan also reminded the public not to spread unverified news about a business premises or prices of goods irresponsibly.
He said such irresponsible action would not only affect the reputation of the businesses but it would also waste the time and effort of the ministry’s enforcement officers conducting the inspection.
Meanwhile, on the issue concerning Sales and Services Tax ( SST), Tan said he was still waiting for directions from the ministry on its implementation.
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng recently announced that the SST would be set at 10 per cent for sales and six per cent for services once the bill is passed in the Parliament next month.
He said the SST, which will be reintroduced on September 1, is expected to bring in revenue of RM4 billion.