KUANTAN: Starting today, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will deploy its enforcement officers and price monitoring staff on the ground to ensure traders comply with the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Aidilfitri.
Its deputy minister, Fuziah Salleh, said 2,200 enforcement officers and some 1,000 price monitors will be assigned to visit shopping centres and supermarkets until the scheme ends on April 19.
"The scheme begins (today), five days before Aidilfitri, during Aidilfitri (two days) and nine days after Raya.
"A total of 22 items under SHMMP will be closely monitored throughout the festive season and the presence of the enforcement team is to avoid any price manipulation by irresponsible parties.
"Non-compliant traders will be immediately punished as they have already been warned to comply with the scheme.
"It is compulsory for traders to display the pink price tags on items listed in the Aidilfitri maximum price scheme.
"The ministry receives the most number of complaints every year about traders not displaying the pink price tags," she told reporters after inspecting the control price scheme at a supermarket in Kemunting here today.
Fuziah said the SHMMP was vital to ensure traders do not take advantage of in-demand items during the festive season.
"In Malaysia, supply is determined by demand. The ministry's concern is that some traders might seize the opportunity to increase the prices of certain food items, especially during the festive season
"So we implement a ceiling(maximum) price scheme," she said.
Fuziah assured that there will be no shortages of essential supplies including the items listed under SHMMP during Aidilfitri.
"There is adequate chicken, egg and meat supplies including beef. The supply of onions will not be affected as we are importing them from China," she said.
Meanwhile, she said consumers could purchase dry goods to prepare for Aidilfitri from the Aidilfitri Rahmah Sales programme which began yesterday at 302 locations nationwide until April 9.
She said a wide range of essential goods will be sold at a bargain price. She added that this would help cushion the burden faced by consumers.
"Apart from SHMMP, we have the Aidilfitri Rahmah Sales and Jualan Rahmah programme ongoing across the country. I was informed that the Pahang government is carrying out Pahang's Makmur Aidilfitri sales this week," she said.
Also present were Pahang Consumer Affairs and Human Resources Committee chairman Sim Chon Siang and state Domestic Trade director Jezlily Jamaluddin.