SIBU: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMPP) for Deepavali this year will run from Nov 9 to 15.
The ministry’s Sibu head, Kelyn Bolhassan Haliward, said eight types of goods have been placed under the scheme.
The seasonal controlled price items are imported bone-in lamb mutton, tomatoes, red chili, grated coconut (maximum price at the wholesale level only), shredded coconut (maximum price at the retail level only), small red onions (India/excluding Ros), imported large red onions, and Dal beans (Australia).
“The move is necessary to curb unreasonable price increases by traders and strict actions will be taken against the traders who fail to comply with the regulations under this scheme,” he said on Thursday (Nov 9).
Traders found to have increased the prices of these controlled items will be issued notices under Section 21, Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
Under the Act, individual traders who commit an offence may be subject to a fine of up to RM100,000, or imprisonment not exceeding three years, or both, or issued compounds up to RM50,000.
For companies, offenders can be fined up to RM500,000 or issued compounds up to RM250,000.
Traders who fail to place pink price tags on price-controlled items will also be fined.
For individual offenders, the maximum fine is RM10,000 while the maximum compound is RM5,000.
Companies can be fined up to RM20,000 or issued compounds of up to RM10,000.
Kelyn called on the public to channel any information or complaints on unethical activities of traders to the ministry via the EZ ADU app, e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my, or by emailing e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my
Alternatively, they can call the Sibu office on 084-335622 or send a WhatsApp message to 019-2794317.
