18 food items listed under Deepavali price control scheme

The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has listed 18 types of food items under the Festive Season Price Control Scheme in conjunction with Deepavali on Nov 10.

Its Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin said the scheme would be enforced for 10 days from Nov 5 till Nov 14.

"The items include live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, chicken eggs Grade A, B, and C; local bone-in mutton, imported bone-in mutton leg and imported boneless mutton leg.

"Also in the list are tomato, red chilli, whole coconut, grated coconut, shallot (India), imported onion, potato (China) and lentil (Australia)," he told a media conference here today.

He said traders must not charge beyond the controlled prices and must use special pink coloured price tags for the items.

Hamzah said traders were also encouraged to sell the items at less than the maximum price.

The scheme implemented under the Price Control and Anti-profiteering Act 2011 provides for a maximum fine of RM100,000 and imprisonment of not more than three years for individual traders who violated the scheme.

Companies face a fine of RM500,000 or compound of up to RM50,000 if found guilty.

The minister said traders could also be fined up to RM10,000 or imposed a compound of up to RM5,000 for failing to use the pink coloured price tag, while companies faced a fine of up to RM20,000 or a compound of up to RM10,000.

He said KPDNKK through its 2,300 enforcement workforce nationwide would carry out aggressive monitoring to protect consumers from unethical traders.

Consumers and traders can access www.kpdnkk.gov.my for information on the latest price control scheme.