By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Feb 14: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Sarawak has listed 16 items under the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Chinese New Year (CNY) 2026, taking effect from Feb 13 to 21.
KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin said the controlled items are white pomfret (200g–400g per fish), white prawns (41–60 pieces per kg), garlic (China), large yellow onions, large red onions, short or Japanese mustard greens, red chillies, imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing cabbage), carrots (China), white radish, potatoes (China), imported old ginger, chicken wings, live pigs (farm level only), pork belly, and pork (meat and fat).
The SHMMP for CNY 2026 will be enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 at both wholesale and retail levels. The maximum prices have been gazetted and can be checked on the ministry’s website at www.kpdn.gov.my.
“We have deployed 207 enforcement officers and 101 price monitoring officers at strategic locations throughout the state to monitor supply availability and price compliance. Inspections are being conducted at public markets, farmers’ markets, weekend markets, and shopping centres selling festive essentials.
“The inspections aim to detect non-compliance and investigate consumer complaints so that appropriate legal action can be taken against traders who violate the law,” he said in a statement following a walkabout at Farley Supermarket in Sibu yesterday (Feb 13).
He added that KPDN will intensify the presence of enforcement and price monitoring officers at high-traffic consumer locations to ensure a safe and ethical business environment.
From Jan 1 to Feb 10, 2026, KPDN Sarawak inspected 15,708 premises statewide, resulting in 308 cases with seizures valued at RM887,867.24 and compounds amounting to RM67,700.
During the same period under Ops Kesan 5.0, 79 Notices of Information Verification (NPMB) involving 352 SKUs (stock keeping units) and seven Written Notices (NB) involving 11 SKUs were issued.
Traders found breaching the scheme face strict penalties under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, including fines of up to RM100,000 or three years’ imprisonment for individuals, and fines of up to RM500,000 for companies.
Failure to display pink price tags for controlled goods carries fines of up to RM10,000 for individuals and RM20,000 for companies.
KPDN urged the public to report violations via WhatsApp at 019-848 8000, email at e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my, the call centre at 1-800-886-800, or through the Ez ADU KPDN mobile application.
He said the scheme aims to protect consumers while ensuring a fair and ethical trading environment during the Chinese New Year festive season. — DayakDaily
