By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Aug 28: A trader in Sejingkat and a business operator in Stutong are being investigated by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Sarawak for allegedly misleading consumers over the prices of goods displayed for sale.
The two cases were detected during an enforcement operation conducted by KPDN Sarawak officers at several business premises around Kuching on Aug 26.
KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin said both cases involved offences under Section 12(1)(a) of the Consumer Protection Act 1999, which prohibits misleading indications regarding the prices of goods displayed for trade.
In the first case, detected at about 11.22am at a business premises in Sejingkat, a trader charged a customer RM13.20 for a product despite the displayed price being RM11.50.
“The customer, who was overcharged by RM1.70, informed the trader of the discrepancy and requested to be charged according to the displayed price.
“However, the trader allegedly refused to honour the displayed price and insisted on charging the higher amount,” he said in a statement today.
Following the inspection, enforcement officers seized a copy of the business licence, four sales receipts, a price tag and a promotional price tag for further investigation.
The second case was detected at about 12.43pm at a business premises in Stutong, where enforcement officers found an offence involving a misleading indication of the price of goods displayed for trade.
They seized a copy of the business licence and a pair of shoes valued at RM29.90 for further investigation.
Matthew said both cases would be investigated under the Consumer Protection Act 1999, with further action to be taken in accordance with the law.
Under Section 145 of the same Act, an individual convicted of a first offence under Section 12(1)(a) may be fined up to RM50,000, jailed for up to three years, or both.
For a second or subsequent offence, an individual may be fined up to RM100,000, jailed for up to five years, or both.
For corporations, the maximum fine is RM100,000 for a first offence and RM200,000 for a second or subsequent offence.
Where an offence continues after conviction, an additional fine of up to RM1,000 may be imposed for each day the offence continues.
Matthew said KPDN Sarawak would continue to intensify monitoring and enforcement efforts to ensure traders complied with regulations and did not mislead consumers over the prices of goods displayed for sale.
He also urged members of the public to report any complaints through KPDN’s WhatsApp hotline at 019-848 8000, email at e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my, Call Centre at 1-800-886-800, or the Ez ADU KPDN smartphone application. — DayakDaily
