KUCHING: Effective Nov 1, the maximum price of a three-ply surgical and medical face masks has been reduced from RM0.95 to RM0.65 per unit at wholesale level.
The maximum retail price has been reduced from RM1.00 to RM0.70 per unit.
Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Sarawak director Datuk Stanley Tan said on Tuesday (Nov 3) the new pricing was enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“Taking into account the need for the people to continue to adopt the new norms, especially the continued use of face masks, KPDNHEP has reviewed the price of face masks by involving local manufacturers and importers,” he said.
For the one-ply surgical or medical mask it will be RM0.05 per unit for wholesale and RM0.07 for retail, he pointed out.
“Whereas for the two-ply surgical or medical mask, it will be RM0.16 per unit for wholesale and RM0.20 for retail. While for the N95 mask, it will be priced at RM5 for wholesale and RM6 for retail,” he explained.
In the meantime, KPDNHEP always ensures the supply of face masks and compliance to the maximum price that has been set through continuous monitoring and inspection at all business premises and online stores, said Tan.
“The results of the inspection found very satisfactory compliance where almost all traders sell face masks either at the maximum price of RM1.00 per unit or lower than that,” he said.
Tan said KPDNHEP Sarawak had conducted a total of 8,906 inspections and monitoring of prices and supplies for face masks throughout the state from Jan 29 to Nov 2, and the inspection successfully found a total of five cases with a seizure value of RM493 and involving a total compound of RM12,000.
“For statistics record from Jan 1 to Nov 2, KPDNHEP Sarawak had carried out inspections at 55,244 business premises covering the urban and rural areas, had found a total of 910 cases with a seizure value of RM 2,813,521.51 and a total compound of RM 191,800.00,” he pointed out.
He reminded that strict action would be taken against those who failed to comply with Order under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and would be penalised.
“For the offence of selling controlled price goods beyond the maximum price, for an individual they may be fined by the court up to RM100,000 or imprisoned not exceeding three years or both or compounded up to RM50,000, while for a company they can be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.
“While for the offence of failing to display price tags on controlled price items, an individual can be fined by the court up to RM50,000 or compounded up to RM25,000, while a company can be fined up to RM100,000 or compounded up to RM50,000,” he pointed out.
Should there be any complaints, consumers can channel their complaints to the ministry via contacting the Call Centre at 1800 886 800, email to e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my, Ez ADU mobile application, Enforcement Command Centre (ECC) at 03-8882 6245/6088 or WhatsApp to 019- 2794317.
