Jainab inspecting the price of controlled items at CKS Hypermarket in Menggatal after launching the Deepavali Price Control Scheme.
KOTA KINABALU: The Ministry of Community Development and Consumer Affairs yesterday issued a warning that stern action would be taken against traders who are found increasing the prices of essential goods sold at their premises above the permitted level this coming Deepavali.
Its minister, Datuk Jainab Ahmad, said the authorities would not compromise with errant traders who were irresponsibly taking advantage of the festive season to make more profit.
“Action may be taken under 10 different laws for a single item, selling controlled items above ceiling prices, confusing or misleading displays of prices, not properly displaying price tags and so on. So, we will be very strict on this in order to protect the consumers,” she told reporters after launching the Deepavali Price Control Scheme at CKS Hypermarket in Menggatal yesterday.
She said 16 essential items had been listed under the scheme and their prices would be closely monitored and controlled for 10 days starting yesterday.
Among the items include live chicken, chicken meat, imported lamb, tomatoes, red chilli, imported unions and potato, eggs and Australian dhal nuts.
Meanwhile, deputy director of Domestic Trade, Corporative and Consumerism (KPDNKK) Yahya Sujak informed that 792 complaints on various offences related to pricing of daily goods had been received from Sabah this year.
Out of this, he said 314 were recorded under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, for which 138 notices had been issued to the operators involved and their cases might be filed for prosecution.
On this, Jainab urged the public to relate to the authorities any information on traders not complying with the law, such as not properly displaying the prices of the items sold or selling controlled items above the allowed prices.