PUTRAJAYA: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry has gone to the ground to monitor prices of goods ahead of the 14th General Election (GE14) campaign period, which starts on Saturday.
Its minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said it had set up a special unit comprising enforcement officers and Friends of KPDNKK team to take action against errant traders and hawkers.
“Business owners and traders are reminded not to increase the price of their products during the campaign season.
“We have asked our enforcement team to go to the ground and monitor the price. We will not hesitate to take action against traders who try to sabotage by raising the price of goods during the election,” he said after an engagement session with village heads (penghulu) in Peninsular Malaysia, here today.
Hamzah said the ministry had appointed 600 penghulu and neighbourhood heads in the peninsula as assistants price controller, assistants supply controller as well as weights and measures inspectors.
The authorisation is under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, Control of Supplies Act 1961; and Weights and Measures Act 1972, enabling them to monitor unethical traders or business owners in their respective areas.
“Although we are busy with GE14, we still make time to have a programme with the penghulu, which is aimed at raising awareness on their responsibility as the eyes and ears of the ministry.
“They have been authorised to monitor the prices and protect the interest of consumers,” he said.
The ministry, together with the village and neighbourhood heads, has conducted inspection on 2,151 premises in the peninsula, with 113 cases of profiteering.