Ahmad Zahid: Act to be amended to tackle manipulation by middlemen

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the amendments were to improve and tighten the Act towards tackling the issue of rising cost of living in an integrated manner.

Ahmad Zahid, who also chairs the high-level committee tackling the rising cost of living, said the Act currently did not have provisions for price control involving middlemen or cartels.

"When it happens (spiralling prices of goods), our opinions should not differ no matter which party we belong to, as the issue of food (prices) is a common concern," he said at the handing-over of cattle for sacrifice in conjunction with the Aidiladha celebration, here, today.

He added that the Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Ministry, and Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry had been asked to discuss with their legal advisers to find the best mechanism in amending the Act or to think of a suitable new act.

Later, at a press conference, Ahmad Zahid who is also the MP for Bagan Datuk, said this matter should be expedited because without strict legal enforcement, the people at large who were the victims of profiteering, would blame the government for this.

"This is a people's problem that is being tackled not only by both ministries, but should be resolved also through enforcement action.

"To the middlemen, I urge that they do not take advantage of situations of hardship faced by the people," he said.