KUCHING: The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is looking into claims going around on social media that the prices of cement have increased.
Inspections of retailers by the ministry started yesterday and will go on until this Thursday.
It is believed that the objective of the inspection is to issue Section 21 notices and obtain information on the retail prices of cement.
To date, two factories in Kuching and Bintulu were issued notices under Section 21 which provides a response period of seven days until today.
This was a follow-up to the inspection on wholesalers on June 17.
The ministry pointed out that retailers or wholesalers who are found guilty can be fined under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
Individuals who are found guilty can be fined up to RM50,000 or two years in jail or both. Organisations can be penalised up to RM100,000.
Under Section 14(1), individuals found to be profiting unreasonably can be fined up to RM100,000 or three years in jail or both. Organisations can be fined up to RM500,000.
Customers are urged to file their complaints on retailers who are illegally profiting from the products to the ministry’s operations room whose phone numbers are: Kuching – 082-466052, Sibu – 082-335622, Sarikei – 084-657751, Sri Aman – 083-323836, Kapit – 084-799678, Mukah – 085-412862, Miri – 085-412862, Bintulu – 086-332176, and Limbang/Lawas – 085-217414.
The complaints can also be emailed to eaduan@kpdnhep.gov.my, the ministry’s call centre at 1800446800, EzAdu smartphone application, Enforcement Command Centre (ECC) at 03-88826245/6088 or WhatsApp – 019-2794317.
Customers are also encouraged to file their reports at any of the ministry’s nine offices in the state.
