KAJANG: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will unveil the list of items to be placed under the Price Control Scheme for the upcoming Deepavali celebration this Monday (Nov 6).
Its deputy minister Fuziah Salleh said this in response to the concerns raised by the Penang Hindu Association (PHA) and consumers over the significant increase in the prices of essential items leading up to the Deepavali festivity.
The Price Control Scheme, said Fuziah, is a standard measure enforced by the ministry, enabling consumers to purchase certain goods at controlled prices during festive periods.
"The ministry will soon announce the Deepavali Festive Season Price Control Scheme on Nov 6, considering the needs of certain goods for the upcoming festival.
"After it has been announced, the price control scheme will be enforced for seven days, covering pre-Deepavali till the end of the festival," she told reporters after her inspections on chicken prices at the Pasar Awam Kajang here today.
It was reported yesterday that PHA has expressed their concern over a marked increased in the prices of essential items, less than 10 days to the festivity.
PHA president P. Murugiah said essential goods between November last year and November of this year revealed significant increases.
Among the affected items are cardamom, fennel and cumin seeds, rice, milk powder, ghee, curry powder, wheat flour, rice flour, chilli powder, cinnamon, tamarind, cooking oil, sago, gingerly oil, prayer oil, bru coffee, whole green gram, black gram, dried chilli, mee hoon, pulut rice, condensed milk, as well as onions.
Note that dried chilli prices rose from RM18.00 to RM30.00 per kg, cumin seeds from RM22.00 to RM48.00 per kg, fennel seeds from RM9.60 to RM21.00 per kg, fish and chicken curry powder (250gm) from RM3.70 to RM5.60, wheat flour from RM1.35 to RM3.80 per kg,
Murugiah also called on the government to take swift action in regulating the price.
"The joy of anticipating the arrival of Deepavali, especially among the B40 families, has been overshadowed by the financial strain imposed by soaring prices of essential commodities and ingredients necessary for preparing traditional cookies and savouries," he said.