Phase 2 of GST requires earnest enforcement - Ahmad Maslan

Phase Two of the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) requires earnest enforcement by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry to prevent traders from manipulating prices in the market.

International Trade and Industry Deputy Minister, Datuk Ahmad Maslan said serious enforcement was also to protect the rights of consumers and avoid them from being burdened by price manipulation.

Ahmad, who is also UMNO information chief, said stern action should be taken against traders found to have used the GST as an excuse to raise the price of goods, including reporting the offences in the Press to serve as a deterrent for other traders.

"For example, if stern action is taken against 10 such traders in Keningau, it is enough to discipline the other traders in this district.

"Believe me. This is because they network, so they would know who had to face the music, hence they will all be careful.

"But if there's no action against any errant trader, they will do as they please, thinking it is okay to indiscriminately raise prices when it's wrong to do that," he said after attending a dialogue on current issues with the Keningau and Pensiangan UMNO divisions here yesterday.

He urged the people, especially in the rural areas, to give their cooperation by channelling information to the penghulu, village head or district chief on indiscriminate hiking of price of goods in their areas.

He also reminded the enforcement officers not to be in cahoots with traders, as this could cause failed or poor enforcement at the expense of the people.