KUCHING: The Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) will probe claims on the unchanged prices of supplies from some wholesalers despite the zero-rating of the Goods and Services Tax (GST).
Its Deputy Minister Chong Chieng Jen said his enforcement personnel would go to the ground and investigate the claims thoroughly.
“We need to get the explanation from both eatery operators and the suppliers or wholesalers.
"We want to ensure there isn’t any unreasonable profit or unnecessary increase (of prices),” he said.
The Stampin Member of Parliament was asked to comment on claims made by eatery operators that some wholesalers who supply food ingredients to their outlets have yet to reduce the prices of goods after the GST was zero-rated.
“Although all businesses are meant to make profit, there’s no way they can go beyond what seems to be unreasonable.
"Otherwise, they will face action under the Price Control and Anti- Profiteering Act 2011," he said.
"We will need to complete our investigation before deciding on the next course of action,” Chong told reporters after a walkabout at Stutong Market, here, today.
Meanwhile, State KPDNKK director Datuk Stanley Tan said a total of 103 complaints have been received since the GST was brought down from six to zero percent.
Out of the total, 102 had been resolved.
“Majority of the business operators in Sarawak are very cooperative. After we issued notice to them, they reviewed their prices and made necessary adjustments. There’s no major issues thus far,” he said.
Get the latest World Cup 2018 scores, highlights and updates from our dedicated news page, click here