BINTULU: Wholesalers and retailers here have assured that stocks of all the 12 essential goods under the Price Control Scheme will be sufficient for the upcoming Chinese New Year (CNY) celebration.
Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism branch chief Mohamad Drahman said the assurance was given during a meeting between the ministry, wholesalers and retailers including several supermarkets and Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority (Fama) on Wednesday.
“Commitment has been given by them to ensure the supply of goods would be enough,” he said.
Mohamad disclosed this during a press conference yesterday on the launching of the Price Control Scheme for the CNY which will be effective from January 26 to February 9.
Except for some items which were affected by the bad weather, prices for several goods had so far been stable and stocks of most essential goods like cooking oil, sugar, flour were more than enough, he added.
It is his hope that traders will not increase prices before the scheme is implemented; saying stern action will be taken against them.
“Follow the prices and if possible lower than the stipulated prices will be much better,” he said.
Pamphlets on the Price Control Scheme were distributed to all traders in Bintulu including Tatau and Sebauh sub-district since yesterday.
Hence, he warned there should be no excuse for traders to say they do not know about the prices under the scheme.
“Banners will also be put up at several supermarkets so that customers will be more aware of the prices,” he said, adding that regular inspection will be carried out by his enforcement teams.
As of January 22, a total of 1,323 premises here were inspected, with 473 under ‘Ops Harga 2’.
“So far we have not received any application from any petrol station to close during the celebration,” Mohamad added.
Among the 12 items under the Price Control Scheme are live chicken (1kg) RM6 wholesale/RM6.70 retail, standard chicken (1kg) RM7.60/RM8.50, super chicken (1kg) RM8.50/ RM9.50, chicken egg grade A RM0.34/RM0.36 each, chicken egg grade B RM0.33/RM0.35 each, chicken egg grade C RM0.32/RM0.34 each, imported round cabbage (1kg) RM2/RM3, garlic (1kg) RM4.50/RM5.50, white pomfret (1kg) RM34/RM37, large banana prawn (1kg) RM33/RM38, pork belly(1kg) RM16/RM18,pork lean and fat (1kg) RM15/RM17.