Prices of 16 items controlled for Christmas - Hamzah

Sixteen food items will be listed under the price control scheme from Dec 23 to 27 in conjunction with Christmas on Dec 25.

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin said the price control scheme would be implemented in 149 areas and districts nationwide.

He said the items were live chicken with a maximum price of RM5.80 per kilogramme, standard chicken (RM7.30/kg), super chicken (RM8.10/kg), local bone-in mutton (RM36/kg), imported bone-in lamb (RM21/kg), imported boneless lamb (RM26/kg) and imported bone-in lamb thigh (RM24/kg).

Other items included chicken egg grade A (RM0.38 each), grade B (RM0.37) and grade C (RM0.36); tomato (RM4.50/kg) and green capsicum (RM9/kg), he told a press conference here, Monday.

The maximum prices of chicken wings, pork (belly, meat and fat), live pigs (price control at farm only) are set in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

Hamzah said traders must sell the items at not more than the maximum prices set, and use pink price tags for them.

Traders who failed to put up the special pink price tags would be slapped with a fine of up to RM10,000 or compound of up to RM5,000 for individuals or a maximum fine of RM20,000 or compound of RM10,000 for companies, he said.

He added that a total of 214,973 inspections were carried out and complaints received as of November compared to 231,083 in the corresponding period last year.