Ministry lists 18 items under price control for Deepavali

Its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the price control scheme would be enforced for 14 days, from Oct 19 to Nov 1.

He said the items were live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, chicken eggs grade A, B and C, local boned mutton, imported boned mutton, imported boned mutton thigh and imported boneless mutton thigh.

"The other items are tomatoes, red chilli, coconut, grated coconut, shallots (India), imported onions, potatoes (China) and lentils (Australia)," he told a press conference to announce the list here Friday.

He said the traders were required to use pink price tags for the price controlled items, which must be sold lower than the maximum prices set.

"The scheme is implemented under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 which provides a maximum fine of RM100,000 and imprisonment not exceeding three years for individuals and a fine of RM500,000 or compound up to RM50,000 for companies that failed to comply with the stipulated price," he said.

Hamzah said traders who failed to put pink price tags for price controlled items could be fined up to RM10,000 or compound up to RM5,000 while the company to a fine of RM20,000 or compound up to RM10,000.

He said the ministry's 2,600 enforcement personnel with public cooperation nationwide would carry out price monitoring prices to protect consumers from unethical traders.