BY INDUN SOLONG
BAU: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) has added 11 controlled items in the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) 2.0 list for Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Gawai Dayak.
Sarawak KPDNHEP director Datuk Stanley Tan said price control list took effect yesterday and would last until June 3.
“This brings the total number of controlled items under the scheme to 20, compared to only nine previously for Hari Raya.
“As for Gawai, the number of controlled items has increased to 22 compared to 11 previously,” he told reporters after visiting a supermarket with Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh yesterday.
Tan said among the 11 added items were tomatoes, imported round cabbage (from Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing), red chilli, green capsicum, onions (China), onions (Holland), potatoes (China), dried chilli, groundnuts and fish such as kembung, mabung and selayang.
“The price control of goods in Sarawak involves 32 areas, divided into five main zones with selling price of items based on geographical factor, logistics and the supplier’s source for each area,” he said.
He further said action would be taken against traders who failed to comply with the regulations of the scheme under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
Meanwhile, when asked on the lowering of price of certain controlled goods by KPDNHEP, Miro hoped that it would lessen the burden of the people.
“Our monitoring in some areas showed that traders are adhering to the price that has been set and we want this to continue.
“We know that during the current cMCO period, people’s income might be reduced and so with this price control, it is hoped that it would benefit especially those celebrating Hari Raya and Gawai,” he said.
