MEETING TOMORROW: Manufacturers, importers, wholesalers and suppliers will be asked to help:-
SEREMBAN: THE government will meet manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers, importers and business associations to find ways to control prices of essential goods.
The meeting will be held in Putrajaya tomorrow.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hasan Malek said he hoped to get feedback on prices and supply of goods in the country.
“We want to strengthen networking with the industry players. At this meeting, we want to get a commitment from them to work with the government to help control the increase in prices of goods,” he said after launching the nationwide “Ops Harga 2013” at the Seremban wet market here.
Hasan said the operation to check on prices was to ensure sufficient supply of essential goods for the Hari Raya celebrations.
He said this operation was earlier than the festive season price-control scheme, usually carried out a week before Hari Raya.
The operation is aimed at keeping track of entry of goods into the country and compare supply with demand to prevent hoarding.
Hasan said 1,845 enforcement officers would be checking on suppliers, distributors, importers, wholesalers and traders.
“They will go to urban and rural areas and check on prices at wet markets, farmers’ markets (pasar tani), Ramadan bazaars, sundry shops, supermarkets, hypermarkets, restaurants and eateries.”
He said since 2010, the ministry recorded 3,701 offences related to prices of goods and confiscated items worth RM1.9 million.
He sought the help of consumer squads and non-governmental-organisations and community leaders to check on prices.
Hasan urged consumers to report any unscrupulous hiking of prices to the toll-free hotline 1-800-886-800, or the 1Malaysia One Call Centre 03-8000 8000, or email to [email protected] or by typing “KPDNKK ADUAN and sending the SMS to 15888.
In Alor Star, Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the ministry was aware that some quarters were trying to use the festive season as an excuse to hike prices of poultry and other food items.
“This problem can be solved by addressing the matter with suppliers, wholesalers and importers,” he said after launching the state-level Ops Harga 2013.
He said at the Monday meeting, the ministry would discuss the ceiling prices for several items, including all types of chicken, local beef, eggs and imported cabbages.
These items are among the 29 listed in the ministry’s controlled items price list, which would be enforced from Aug 1 to 15.
In Putrajaya, the ministry’s deputy director (enforcement) Ahmad Dahuri Mahmud said traders should use proper units of measurement for weight and indicate accurate pricing of items.
Errant traders would face hefty fines, he said after launching Ops Harga 2013 at the Presint 8 market here.
-NST
