Govt warns mutton cheats

> Ministry urges public to lodge official complaints

GEORGE TOWN: Action will be taken against meat sellers who pass off buffalo meat as mutton to buyers.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Deputy Minister Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said such acts would be considered as cheating.

He urged those who have been cheated to lodge official complaints.

“Let us know immediately if there are such cases,” he said when asked in a press conference yesterday after his visit to Little India in Penang in conjunction with the Deepavali celebrations tomorrow.

Ahmad Bashah said ministry officials conducted more than 12,000 checks to ensure traders complied with the Deepavali Price Control Scheme 2015.

No action has been taken so far after the 10-day scheme began on Thursday as traders seem to have adhered to the law.

The scheme lists ceiling prices for 18 items including chicken, chicken eggs of grade A, B and C, local bone-in mutton, tomatoes, red chilies, coconuts and imported onions.

Meanwhile, Penang Hindu Association (PHA) has called on the ministry to take action against traders who hiked the prices of goods.

Checks at several outlets showed black gram (no. 1) which was sold at RM5.80 per kg last year is now RM15; black gram (no. 2) sold for RM4.80 per kg in 2014 is now RM12.50; cashew nuts sold at RM28 per kg last year is now RM48 while yellow lentils are now sold for RM12.80 per kg compared to RM5.80 last year.