KUALA LUMPUR: Compounds worth RM889,206 were issued to retailers for profiteering since January.
Deputy Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry Datuk Seri Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said to date a total of 1,759,385 checks have been conducted nationwide.
“Items worth RM1,243,586 were also confiscated during the operations. The ministry currently has a total 2,669 enforcement officers working in the field to check prices of goods at wet markets, morning markets and pasar tani.
"We also have 1,175 price monitoring officers deployed to carry out daily checks at shopping spots like wet markets, supermarkets, hypermarket, convenient stores and sundry shops to curb items from being sold at inflated prices. Meanwhile, checks for eateries like restaurants and food courts are carried out monthly. Findings from the checks will be used for prices of goods trend report and enforcement actions.
"We also have the cooperation of consumers’ squad, district heads, community leaders and non-governmental organisations that are also monitoring the prices of goods and alert us on retailers suspected of profiteering," he said in reply to a supplementary question by Datuk Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (BN-Tanah Merah).
Bashah said a 7-day notice would be issued to retailers suspected of profiteering to give an explanation to the ministry following report by consumers.
"Some of the retailers may state that the prices of goods were set as such to ensure their profit margin as they had also bought them at a high price sold by wholesalers. A notice will then be issued to the wholesalers to seek clarification. If the explanations given are not clear (satisfactory), we will issue summons," he said.
He said consumers can forward complaints to various mediums including sending email to e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my, call hotline at 1-800-886-800 or submit complaints through ministry's twitter and Facebook page.