KUCHING: The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) welcomes anyone to come forward with information on food outlets charging exorbitant prices for plain water.
The ministry’s deputy minister Chong Chieng Jen stated that sometimes this (situation) depends on the environment of the shop.
“That is why we have the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (AKHAP 2011) so that notices can be issued to probe investigation whether they (food outlets) have increased their profit margin unreasonably (or not),” he said.
He told this to New Sarawak Tribune in response to Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP)’s call on the ministry to take action against food outlets for doing so.
He added, “Upon receipt of the information of specific shop, the ministry will issue a notice of Section 21 under the AKHAP 2011 to the individual shop owner to furnish all relevant information.
“If the shop owner refuses, he or she can be subjected to a heavy fine,” he said.
