KUALA LUMPUR: Grade A, B, and C chicken eggs are among 16 items under the price control scheme list for a five-day period beginning Dec 23 to lighten the burden of shoppers for the upcoming Christmas festivities.
In a statement today, the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNHEP) said the three Grades of eggs joined the ranks of standard chicken meat, imported turkey, local boned goat meat and imported lamb, among others, in the price control list.
The Ministry said that the price control scheme would take effect from Dec 23 to 27 in order to curb the rise in price of essential goods during the Christmas period.
At grocery stores in Peninsula Malaysia, Christmas shoppers would be able to purchase Grade A, B, and C eggs at 44 sen, 43 sen, and 42 sen respectively; standard chicken meat (RM7.30 per kg); imported turkey (RM28 per kg), local boned goat meat (RM47 per kg), and imported lamb (RM25 per kg), among others.
Christmas shoppers in Sabah would be able to buy Grade A, B, and C eggs at 41 sen, 40 sen and 39 sen respectively.
Their counterparts in Sarawak can enjoy these essential items between 39 and 43 sen for Grade A eggs, Grade B eggs (between 38 sen and 42 sen), and Grade C eggs (between 37 sen and 41 sen).
“The setting of the maximum price for producers, wholesalers and retailers were made based on the suitability aimed at ensuring reasonable prices in the distribution chain for the benefit of consumers and traders.
“KPDNHEP sets the prices based on pricing information obtained from monitoring prices at all districts nationwide for 2018 from January to December based on prices set weekly by the ministry.
“We also take into account the views of various related government agencies like the Agriculture Department, the Veterinary Services Department (VSD) and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (FAMA) and discussions with producers, importers, suppliers and wholesellers,” the ministry said.
It reminded that prices for every state was set based on the appropriate current market pricing and took into account the factor of price changes, especially for items imported from foreign nations, which was affected by monetary exchange rates, among others.
It said that a notice under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Monitoring Act 2011 would be issued against irresponsible traders who raise prices unreasonably.
It warned that individual traders caught violating the price control scheme faced fines up to RM100,000 or jail time not exceeding three years, or hit with compounds of up to RM50,000.
It also warned that companies nabbed flouting the scheme could be fined up to RM500,000 or hit with compounds not exceeding RM250,000.
The Ministry also warned that traders who failed to display pink price tags on controlled items could face fines not exceeding RM10,000 or compound up to RM5,000 for individuals, and RM20,000 maximum fine or compound up to RM10,000 for companies.