ALOR SETAR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry office in Kedah has seized 3,450 face masks valued at RM6,900 in a raid on a house in Taman Kempas, Sungai Petani.
Its director, Rae Morn Verak (rpt) Rae Morn Verak, said the raid was conducted at 10.45 am on Monday after public complaints that a man was selling the masks online at a price higher than the ceiling price set for the Movement Control Order (MCO) period.
“It is believed that the 3,450 three-ply face masks were meant to be sold at RM2.50 per unit, higher than the RM2 ceiling price at that time,” he said in a statement. The government has since reduced the ceiling price to RM1.50.
Rae Morn said the 52-year-old man is believed to have promoted the masks for sale on Facebook and accepted orders over WhatsApp and despatched them via mail.
He said the suspect is being investigated under Section 11 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 which provides for any person who commits an offence of profiteering to be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to three years, or both, for the first offence and to a fine of up to RM250,000 or imprisonment for up to five years, or both, for the second and subsequent offences.
If the offender is a corporate entity, the fine for the first offence is a maximum of RM500,000 and for the second and subsequent offences, a fine of up to RM1 million.
Rae Morn advised traders against raising the prices of goods arbitrarily by taking advantage of a shortage of the goods in the market and warned of severe action if they do as there is constant monitoring of prices of goods.
He advised members of the public with information on profiteering and such to contact the Enforcement Command Centre at 1-800-886-800 or 04-7001745 or via the website http://e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my. – Bernama
