With Ramadan, Kaamatan coming, price caps imposed on controlled items in Labuan

With Ramadan and Kaamatan approaching, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK), Labuan branch, has launched the first ever Ramadan Price Control Scheme and Kaamatan Price Control Scheme to avoid indiscriminate hike in prices of goods.

It announced the price caps for 10 controlled items in conjunction with the Ramadan month and 13 items for the Kaamatan Festival.

Its director Arun Fazhillah Hamdan said the Ramadan Price Control Scheme would run from May 22 to 31, and the scheme for Kaamatan, which falls on May 30, from May 25 to 31.

"The Ramadan Price Control Scheme is the first ever held from this year, as we have heard many complaints from consumers during the previous Ramadan on indiscriminate hike in prices of goods," he told Bernama, today.

The controlled items (for Ramadan) are groundnuts with the wholesale and retail prices set at RM8 and RM9 per kg respectively, green beans (RM7.50/RM8.50), chicken eggs grade A (RM0.40/RM0.42 each), chicken eggs grade B (RM0.39/RM0.41), chicken eggs grade C (RM0.38/RM0.40), whole coconut (RM1.30), grated coconut (retail price at RM6 per kg), coarse grain white refined sugar (RM2.87/RM2.95), fine grain white refined sugar (RM2.95/RM3.05) and wheat flour (retail price at RM1.35 per kg).

"This will enable consumers to obtain the necessary items during the fasting month at reasonable prices, check excessive price hikes and reduce the burden of cost of living," he said.

The controlled items in conjunction with the Kaamatan Festival are live chicken (wholesale price RM6/retail price RM6.60 per kg), standard chicken (RM8.80/RM9.80), super chicken (RM9.30/RM10.30), chicken wings (RM10/RM11), chicken eggs grade A (RM0.40/RM0.42 each), chicken eggs grade B (RM0.39/RM0.41), chicken eggs grade C (RM0.38/RM0.40), imported beef [India] (RM20/RM21 per kg), shallots [India] (RM5.60/RM6.50), garlic [China] (RM14/RM15), pork [stomach] (RM21/RM23), pork [meat and fat] (RM18/RM20) and live pigs (RM9.80 per kg).

Arun Fazhillah said the prices were set after consulting the traders, retailers, farmers, consumers and other relevant stakeholders.

He said the schemes would be enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act and individuals selling the items above the price ceiling could be penalised with a fine of up to RM100,000 and a compound not exceeding RM50,000.

For companies, the fine is up to RM500,000 and the compound up to RM250,000 for the same offence.

"I wish to remind all traders to obey these instructions and be ethical in conducting their business, and the consumers to be responsible and to know their rights," Arun Fazhillah said.

-- BERNAMA