Kuala Lumpur, Jan 21- The Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK) today launched the ‘Ops Harga 2.0′ simultaneously throughout the country to check arbitrary price increases that have become a burden for consumers lately.
Throughout the operations, any party found breaking the law stipulated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 would be taken to court.
Traders who violate the act could be fined as much as RM50,000 or sentenced up to two years’ jail while offenders under the Weights and Measures Act 1972 would be fined up to RM4,000 or sentenced up to three years’ jail.
Ops Harga 2.0 this year is a continuation of Ops Harga 1.0 which began in July last year.
In Putrajaya, KPDNKK Enforcement Director Mohd Roslan Mahayuddin said checks conducted at the Precinct 8 market found that there were no problems with the prices of goods.
However, traders were advised to display the price of each item clearly and not just on one big sign, he said.
Mohd Roslan, however, said one notice was issued to a trader for selling red chillies at RM19 a kg, which is higher than at other places.
The trader was told to send a report to the ministry and explain why that price was displayed.
In KUALA LUMPUR, KPDNKK’s Enforcement head Rosli Ahmad said there would be no compromise with the traders and retailers who cheated on the measures and did not display the prices of goods.
Offenders would be taken to court, he said.
“The ministry will no longer issue compound fines because the traders would just ignore them, ” Rosli told reporters after the Ops Harga 2.0 operation at Pudu Market.
In ALOR SETAR, Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, who conducted a check at the Alor Setar market, said the ridiculous increase in the price of goods was due to traders being greedy.
In KUALA TERENGGANU, KPDNKK detected eight cases of traders committing various offences in several districts today.
Its director there, Shamsul Badrein Mohsein, said three of the traders used outdated measures while five more did not observe the controlled prices fixed by the ministry.
Speaking to reporters after conducting a check of the prices of goods at Chabang Tiga today, he said several items valued at RM232 were seized.
In KOTA BAHARU, 43 traders have been issued with compound fines since Jan 1 for failing to display the prices of goods at their premises.
Kelantan KPDNKK director Sharuddin Jali said his department had issued compound fines to five traders who failed to display the prices of goods at their premises.
Besides Kota Baharu, the KPDNKK Kelantan also conducted similar operations in three other areas – Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas and Kuala Krai – today.
– Bernama
