By Brad Rantayy
MIRI, May 25: Senator Alan Ling paid a visit to Imperial Hypermarket Miri yesterday evening to inspect the prices of 22 controlled items under the Hari Raya festive season initiative, and he came away satisfied.
“I found that the ceiling prices have been complied with,” he told reporters covering his visit. He was accompanied by Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP)’s Miri chief Joe Azmi Jamil.
Ling reminded traders to adhere to the price control scheme, which is effective from May 21 to June 19.
For this year’s celebration, the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government increased the number of items in the price control list to 22. Previously, there were only 18 such items during the Barisan Nasional (BN) regime.
Meanwhile, Joe Azmi reminded that traders who failed to adhere to the scheme could be hauled up under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act.
“Our enforcement officers will be on the ground to conduct regular inspections,” he said.
Under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, those found selling controlled items at higher prices could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to three years or both or face a compound of up to RM50,000.
For companies, the penalty is a fine of RM500,000 or compound of up to RM50,000, if found guilty.
Traders who failed to display or use the pink price tags could be fined up to RM10,000, while for companies, they could be fined up to RM20,000.
For complaints about traders’ failure to use pink price tags on controlled items, consumers can alert the ministry’s portal at e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my or call its hotline at 1800 886 800. — DayakDaily
