KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 – A random check at the Sentul Market showed traders have not increased the price of 18 items under the price control scheme, in conjunction with the coming Deepavali festival, says Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainudin.
“Even though we have set the ceiling prices, there are traders who sell the items at lower prices and I think it is because of the market forces between them. For example, we set the price of tomatoes at RM3.50 per kg, but many are selling at RM3…this situation will benefit the consumers,” he told reporters after visiting the market here Thursday.
Although today is the first day of the 10-day enforcement, Hamzah said the ministry would always have its ‘eyes and ears’ everywhere to ensure close monitoring of the price of controlled items. The ministry has listed 18 items under the price control scheme in conjunction with Deepavali which falls on Nov 10. The items include live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, chicken eggs Grade A, B, and C; local bone-in mutton, imported bone-in mutton leg, and imported boneless mutton leg.
