Ministry to ensure enough essential goods this coming Hari Raya
Posted on June 29, 2012, Friday
SIBU: With Hari Raya Aidilfitri barely two months away, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism has taken proactive measures to ensure that the state has sufficient supply of essential items.
Anticipating that the price of these items would soar in the run-up to the festive celebration, the ministry yesterday met up with the state’s major suppliers, importers, wholesalers and retailers to gather feedback from them.
Its state director Wan Ahmad Uzir Wan Sulaiman said it was also to ensure there will not be any interruption to the supply of the items as the festive season draws nearer.
“They have collectively assured the ministry that supply of essential items would be enough to meet the expected surge in demand.
“As such, we would like to remind consumers to refrain from panic buying as that could trigger an artificial shortage,” he said.
Turning to the traders, he reminded them to play by the rules and not try to rake in excessive profit by hiking their prices of goods indiscriminately.
“They can’t hike prices of goods at their whims and fancies to burden consumers. Our enforcement officers are constantly keeping tabs on the market situation,” he noted.
Wan Uzir warned that they would not hesitate to take stern action against unscrupulous traders for hoarding or refusing to sell their goods in anticipation of selling them at higher prices.
“Perpetrators can be charged under Supply Control Act 1961, and upon conviction, be fined up to RM100,000 or sentenced to three years’ jail or both,” he cautioned.
A company could be slapped with a RM250,000 fine if convicted of such offence, he said.
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