KENINGAU: The Enforcement Division of the Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry, Keningau branch has warned that traders and companies found selling controlled items above the maximum price can be fined RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.
Head of Branch, Geoffrey Gumalang said that individuals who commit the offense are liable to a fine of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for not more than three years or both, and may also be compounded up to RM50,000.
He said that failure to put pink price tags on controlled goods was also considered an offence and traders may be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000.
“As for companies, if found guilty, they can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000,” he told reporters at his office here on Friday.
Geoffrey said that the prices of goods would be regulated during the Hari Raya celebration and will begin on July 20 – August 5 for Keningau, Tenom, Tambunan and Nabawan.
He said failing to put a price tag or price list for goods sold is an offense where the maximum fine for each individual for a first offense is RM50,000 or two years imprisonment. For the second or subsequent offenses, they will be fined RM100,000 or jailed five years.
Meanwhile, he said corporations or companies found to have committed the offense would be fined RM100,000 for the first offense, after which they will be fined RM250,000 for the second or subsequent offenses.
“The offense also imposes a maximum compound of up to RM25,000 for individuals and RM50,000 for a corporation or company.
“All these are in accordance with the Price Control Act and Anti-profiteering 2011 (Act 723),” he said.
Geoffrey also stipulated the types of controlled goods and their maximum price per unit for wholesale and retail as follows: live Chicken 1 kg RM6.30 wholesale price and RM7 retail price, standard chicken 1kg (RM9/ RM10), super chicken 1kg (RM 9:50/RM10.30), local beef 1kg (RM21/RM 23), buffalo meat from India 1kg (RM12.50/RM13.50).
For the price of eggs, chicken eggs grade A each (RM 0.39/RM0.41), Grade B eggs (RM0.38/RM0.40), grade C (RM0.37/RM0.39), red chilly 1kg (RM8/RM10), tomatoes 1kg (RM3.50/RM4.50), coconut piece for wholesale price only RM1.40, grated coconut for the retail price only 1kg RM4,50.
Red Onion 1kg (RM6/RM7), imported big onion 1kg (RM2.50/RM4), garlic 1kg (RM5.50/RM6.50), imported potatoes 1kg (RM2/RM3), mackerel including ‘mabung’ 1kg RM6 wholesale price and RM7 retail price.