KUANTAN: Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has put 19 meat and vegetable items on a price control list for 14 days starting Oct 20 in conjunction with Deepavali.
Its Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the ministry has added three new items to the list and lengthen its time frame compared to last year’s 10-day period.
He said the new items were dried chillies, round cabbage (imported from Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing) and lady fingers also known as okra.
Saifuddin said maximum prices were determined at the production level (farm), seen in items such as live chicken and eggs.
He said the maximum manufacturers, wholesale and retail prices were determined in 91 districts in the Peninsula, 32 districts in Sarawak, 27 districts in Sabah and one district in Labuan.
Among the items in the list for Peninsula are live chicken (RM5.80 per kg), standard chicken (RM7.30), ‘super chicken’ or dressed chicken without leg, head, liver and gizzard (RM8.10), local bone-in mutton (RM47) and imported lamb (RM25).
Also subject to price controls are Grade A, B and C eggs, which cost 40 sen, 39 sen and 38 sen, respectively.
Meanwhile, the ceiling price for tomatoes has been set at RM4.50 per kg, Indian shallots at RM7, imported potatoes from China (RM3), red chilli (RM15) and Australian dhal (RM3.50).
As for the three new items, maximum price for dried chillies is RM16 per kg, round cabbage (RM3) and lady fingers (RM3.50).
The remaining items are grated coconut at RM7.20 per kg and a whole coconut at RM1.90 a piece.
"The Deepavali Festive Season Price Control Scheme will begin on Oct 20 to Nov 2.
"This scheme will be carried out for 14 days which includes seven days before the Deepavali, on the day itself and six days after the celebration.
"This is 10 days more than last year," he said at the Zon Perdagangan Terpilih a programme for the east coast region here today.
He said under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, those found to be selling the controlled items at a higher prices could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed up to three years, or both, or face a compound of up to RM50,000.
"Companies face a fine of RM500,000 or compound of up to RM50,000 if found guilty," he said.
Saifuddin said traders could be fined up to RM10,000 for not using the pink price tags while companies could be fined up to RM20,000.
He said consumers could report to the ministry on errant traders via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317.