KPDNHEP should work with other agencies to tackle consumer goods price hike - PM

PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wants the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) to work together with other relevant agencies in tackling the issue of consumer goods price hike through continuous monitoring and law enforcement.

He said the government was aware of the fact that some wholesalers and traders had been increasing the price of goods during certain seasons, what more with the rising number of public complaints about the matter.

Muhyiddin said a price hike would definitely burden the consumers, especially the low-income earners, as well as hawkers and petty traders.

“The government needs to ensure that this unethical activity that put unnecessary pressure and burden on the consumers can be curbed in a comprehensive and effective manner,” he said in his speech during a visit to the KPDNHEP Enforcement Command Centre (ECC) here today.

According to Muhyiddin, KPDNHEP’s decision to implement the Festive Seacon Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) from April 21 was a good measure to curb the essential goods price hike during Ramadan and the upcoming Aidilfitri.

The scheme, which will be in force for 30 days, involving 12 items from four categories, namely chicken, eggs, meat and seafood.

The Prime Minister said despite some changes in its job scopes, the main function of KPDNHEP as the regulatory body of domestic trade and consumer affairs remains unchanged and has become increasingly important especially in the face of global economic change.

Admitting it is not an easy task, Muhyiddin, who had led the ministry from 1999 to 2004, said he believed that the ministry as the frontliners in economic recovery and wellbeing of consumers will remain strong in facing future challenges and meeting the needs of the people.

He also wanted all KPDNHEP staff to continue playing a more effective role in regulating the domestic trade sector, especially in distributive trade to ensure smooth operations of the country’s economy.

Muhyiddin said the ministry’s staff had so far shown high commitment as civil servants, including in ensuring the continuity of distributive trade activities, especially at the beginning of the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) in March 2020.

Reiterating the panic buying situation during the MCO, Muhyiddin said he was proud of the KPDNHEP’s success in tackling the situation while ensuring an adequate supply of all essentials, face masks and disinfectant fluid throughout the period.

Another commendable achievement of the ministry was the preparation of the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the distributive trade sector during the MCO, Conditional MCO and Recovery MCO through close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the National Security Council.

“The preparation of the SOP has also enabled 170 wholesale and retail business categories to reopen in a controlled and safe environment,” he said, adding that the ministry had also boosted the use of e-commerce and successfully implemented the Buy Malaysian campaign and the Malaysia Sale programme.

-- BERNAMA