KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs has listed 19 items under the Festive Seasons Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Christmas effective Dec 22 to 31.
Its minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the move was to restrict any increase in prices of essential goods ahead of Christmas which will be celebrated on Dec 25 nationwide.
He explained that the ministry had determined the prices based on price monitoring in all districts nationwide since 2019.
It took into account the weekly price collection set by the ministry, the views of various relevant government agencies, namely Department of Agriculture, Department of Veterinary Services, and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) and discussions with the manufacturers, importers, suppliers and wholesalers of the goods.
“Meanwhile, the pricing of goods for the states was made according to the suitability of the current market prices and took into account the factors of price changes, especially for imported goods affected by prices in the country of origin, changes in exchange rates and rising costs of farmers’ utilities,” Nanta told a press conference on the Christmas Festive Seasons Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) held in Putrajaya today.
The goods under the scheme are as follows:
1. Live chicken
2. Standard chicken (slaughtered and dressed chicken with leg, head, liver and gizzard or any parts thereof)
3. Super chicken (slaughtered and dressed chicken without leg, head, liver and gizzard)
4. Live spent chicken
5. Chicken wing
6. Imported turkey
7. Chicken egg grade A
8. Chicken egg grade B
9. Chicken egg grade C
10. Local mutton with bone
11. Imported mutton and lamb with bone
12. Imported potatoes from China
13. Carrot
14. Imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China not including Beijing cabbage)
15. Tomato
16. Green pepper (Capsicum)
17. Live pig
18. Pork (belly)
19. Pork (meat and fat)
Nanta said any trader who committed an offence under the scheme would be charged under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“An individual selling the goods above maximum price can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed not more than three years or both or compounded up to RM50,000.
“Meanwhile, a company can be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000,” he said.
For failing to place pink price tags on the items, an individual can be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000 while a company can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000.
Inspection and monitoring of price control of the essential goods will be carried out by the ministry’s law enforcement personnel in public places such as markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets nationwide.
Apart from cooperating with various agencies to implement the scheme, the ministry has established People’s Complaints Action Squad (STAR) and other mediums to enable the public to submit complaints related to price issues.
Consumers can channel complaints to the ministry through portal at e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my, mobile application Ez ADU, WhatsApp at 019-2794317 or call 03-88826245/6088.
