Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs, Senator Puan Hajah Fuziah binti Salleh, conducted a field visit to conduct an inspection in conjunction with the implementation of the Maximum Price Scheme for the Chinese New Year 2024.
The visit, aimed at overseeing the implementation of the Maximum Price Scheme, spanned from February 6 to February 14, 2024, covering a total of 9 days, including pre-celebration, celebration day, and post-celebration periods.
The key objective of the inspections was to verify compliance with gazetted prices for goods and the use of pink labels for controlled-priced items among traders. Under the scheme, 11 categories of goods have been designated for price regulation:
- White prawns (weighing between 41 to 60 pieces per kilogram);
- White pomfret fish (weighing between 200 grams to 400 grams per piece);
- Live pigs;
- Pork (belly);
- Pork (meat and fat);
- Imported round cabbage (excluding Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing);
- Imported potatoes (China);
- Garlic;
- Aged ginger;
- Imported white radish; and
- Red radish.
Enforcement of the Maximum Price Scheme is governed by the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, allowing pricing decisions at various levels of the supply chain, from producer, wholesaler to retailer levels. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) collaborates in monitoring to ensure sufficient availability of goods, reinforcing consumer protection measures.
The pricing determination is made by taking views from the industry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, as well as agencies under it, and input data collected by the National Price Division (BHBN). Notably, a total of 2,200 members from the KPDN Enforcement Unit, supported by 900 KPDN Price Monitoring Officers nationwide, have been deployed to strategic locations, including shopping centers, to facilitate effective enforcement. This proactive approach enables swift action against any consumer complaints and ensures compliance among traders.
Strict action will be taken against traders who fail to comply with the regulations under this scheme. Any trader found in violation will be subject to action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and may be subject to penalties as follows:
(i) Offense of selling controlled-priced goods above the maximum price:
(a) Individual; may be fined by the court up to RM100,000 or imprisoned for up to three years or both or compounded up to RM50,000; and (b) Company; may be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000;
(ii) Offense of failing to display a pink price label for controlled-priced goods:
(a) Individual; may be fined by the court up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000; and
(b) Company; may be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000.
