KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) implements the Maximum Price Control Scheme on essential supplies during festive seasons only if there is a need to do so.
Its minister Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi said that as of now, the ministry will not impose the scheme, as there is low demand on daily necessities and prices are still under control.
"We have conducted research on it, and I can assure consumers that supplies are enough for now. (However, KPDNHEP imposing) the scheme on essential items during festive occasions every year is normal.
"From a meeting with other relevant ministries two weeks ago, we decided that the (scheme would be imposed in) the coming Ramadan month and during the Movement Control Order (MCO) only if there is a need to do so.
"(Since) members of the public seldom leave their houses to do grocery shopping during the MCO (demand for supplies are low and prices are under control).
“As for now, there is no need for us to impose the scheme, although we have been given the green light to do so," he said during a live interview on TV3's morning talk show Malaysia Hari Ini (MHI) at Sri Pentas, here, today.
Alexander said the ministry's enforcement unit will still conduct checks at all premises to monitor the situation.
He added that if there are signs of traders hiking up prices within a week or two of the Ramadan month, the ministry will impose the scheme.
On checks during the MCO by the ministry's enforcement team on three sectors – retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers – he said that as of today, 33,000 checks have been conducted.
"All of us in the ministry, including me, also went to the ground every week to check on the situation. I could only understand the situation when I went to check on the situation myself and therefore, it gives us the space to improve.
"Sometimes, the public may not know how we work and we don't blame them. Hence, I instructed my ministry to disseminate information on what he have done during the MCO," he said.
Alexander said the ministry will also monitor online-based business services (e-dagang) and online trading from time to time, as activity in the sector has increased during the MCO.
"The public should be careful when conducting any online transaction for their online purchases to avoid from being scammed," he added.