Ceiling prices for 18 controlled items fixed for Aidilfitri

The Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry has fixed the ceiling price for 18 controlled items under the Aidilfitri Price Control Scheme 2014, which will take effect from July 20 to Aug 5. Its minister, Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, said the scheme would be implemented under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. "Traders will be compelled to sell those controlled items below the ceiling price fixed by the government and to put a special pink-coloured price tags on those items to differentiate them from other items. "However, they are also encouraged to sell those controlled items at much lower prices if their supplies came at relatively cheaper prices," he told reporters after visiting Seremban 2 Tesco Hypermarket here today. The 18 controlled items are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, local beef, imported beef (maximum price in Sarawak only), imported buffalo meat (India), chicken eggs - grade A, B and C, red chilies, tomatoes, whole coconuts (ceiling price at wholesale level only), grated coconut (ceiling price at retail level only), shallots (India), imported onions, garlic (China), imported potatoes (China) and ikan kembung. Hasan also said that stern action awaited traders who failed to adhere to the regulations under the scheme. "The scheme is being implemented to ensure that consumers would be able to buy essential items at a reasonable price and also to prevent extreme price hikes," he said. On the price reduction campaign launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Jan 29 this year, Hasan said so far, 178 supermarkets with 1,089 branches nationwide had participated in the campaign which aimed at tackling and minimising the increase in the price of essential items. He said up to 4,000 products were being given a discount of between 10 to 70 percent during the campaign. "It is hoped that the continuous effort taken by the government will help reduce the people's cost of living, especially among low and medium income earners," he added.