KUCHING, Jan 12: The Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) for Chinese New Year (CNY) will be implemented from Jan 15 to 29 involving eight types of food items including white pomfret, white shrimp and pork meat.
Minister of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Datuk Seri Salahuddin Ayub said the enforcement of the SHMMP in conjunction with CNY is to create a win-win situation for both consumers and businesses.
The list of items comprises white pomfret, weighing between 200 and 400 grammes; white shrimp (between 41 and 60 pieces per kilogramme); garlic from China; imported potato (China); imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China excluding Beijing); live farm pigs; pork belly and pork (lean meat and fatty meat).
“At the same time, the price control for chickens and eggs will continue to be enforced.
“Consumers will be able to enjoy foodstuff at affordable prices while businesses will not be pressured with the long period of enforcement,” he said in a statement today.
Salahuddin emphasised that the pricing of goods was made by taking into account views of industry players, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) including agencies under it as well as goods pricing data collected from the National Commodity Price Division (BHBN) under KPDN.
He also said that KPDN enforcement officers have been mobilised to strategic locations such as markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets to conduct inspections and monitoring.
“This strategy enables enforcement to be carried out more effectively where immediate action can be taken based on consumer complaints and against traders in the event of non-compliance.
“At the same time, prudent enforcement is carried out by providing education, advice and warnings so that traders comply with the laws and practise ethical trading,” he added.
Salahuddin also reminded traders to comply with the price control scheme for the festive season and use pink price tag labels for the goods.
“Strict action will be taken against traders who fail to comply with the regulations under the scheme. Any trader who commits an offense will be prosecuted under the Price Control and Anti-Profitability Act 2011,” he said.
Traders and the public can check the prices of the items involved under the CNY SHMMP through the ministry’s website at https://www.kpdn.gov.my.
KPDN also provides various channels for the public to submit complaints related to price issues: WhatsApp (019-2794317/019-8488000), complaints portal at e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my, phone hotline (1800 886 800), email via e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my, mobile app Ez ADU and Enforcement Command Centre at 03-88826245/6088. — DayakDaily
