By Ahmad Mukhsein Mukhtar
Pix by Wan Nabil Nasir
ALOR STAR: The Kedah Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has recorded over 1,600 complaints this year on the supply of goods and price control, with subsidised cooking oil supply and price manipulation of controlled goods price among the top concerns.
Its state director, Muhammad Nizam Jamaluddin, said 137 complaints were linked to subsidised cooking oil supply, while 228 involved price manipulation of controlled goods.
"We received 1,693 complaints regarding supplies and profiteering practices this year. Action was taken on eight cases involving cooking oil under the Supply Control Act 1961.
"Another six cases related to price hikes were handled under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011," he said during the launch of the state-level 2024 Christmas Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP).
Nizam said the ministry had been conducting Op Kesan 3.0 since Oct 1 to inspect and monitor prices across five categories namely food and beverages, household necessities, ready-to-eat food, barber services, and laundry services.
"On Oct 17, the operation was expanded to include chicken price checks, with 300 premises inspected. A total of 92 notices were issued for goods and services, while one notice was issued for chicken prices," he said.
On the 2024 Christmas SHMMP, Nizam assured that price controls would remain in force throughout the festive season.
"Fourteen types of items have been identified by the ministry for control under this scheme. However, only nine items are controlled in Kedah, including imported mutton cuts with bones, round cabbages (excluding those from Indonesia and China), carrots, tomatoes, red chillies, green capsicums, large imported red onions, large yellow onions and imported potatoes from China.
"A total of 187 enforcement officers will be deployed across markets, farmers' markets and shopping centres statewide to ensure compliance and to protect consumers from unscrupulous traders," he added.
Nizam urged traders to comply with price controls and to use pink price tags for all controlled items.
"Strict action will be taken against those who fail to follow the rules under the scheme. Offenders will face charges under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011," he said.
On Friday, Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali announced that 14 items would be listed under the 2024 Christmas SHMMP, effective Dec 23 until Dec 27.
(hyperlink: https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/12/1150993/armizan-14-items-list...)