KUCHING: The Sarawak Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) did not receive any complaints on prices of controlled items during the Hari Raya and Gawai Dayak festive period.
Its deputy minister Chong Chieng Jen said this was due to the good enforcement and policy of the ministry.
“For instance, we have increased the number of days for the Festive Season’s Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP),” he added during the ministry’s Gawai Raya gathering at its premises at Jalan Tun Jugah here yesterday.
“Previously, especially during Raya and Gawai, there were many complaints about increases in the prices of goods.
“But this year, we did not receive any complaints about items being sold beyond the maximum prices that had been set. This is very good,” he said.
Chong added that the ministry was also using a more friendly approach to ensure that traders cooperate and comply with the rules.
“Of course, we have to be firm about the regulations. But when we see non-compliance by the traders, the first thing we do is to approach and advise them. If there is negligence, then only compounds are issued to them.
“Under the new government, we do not strike fear into the hearts of the traders so that they will comply. But we try to win their hearts for cooperation. That is more important,” he pointed out.
Chong also took the opportunity to congratulate the ministry’s staff for doing their jobs well and thanked the traders for complying with the rules.
He also thanked the Agriculture Ministry for ensuring sufficient supplies of goods.
The deputy minister also urged members of the public to lodge complaints if they came across hawkers who did not exhibit the prices of their food items.
“Traders must display the prices of anything they sell. If we find anyone breaking the rules, we have no choice but to take immediate action,” he stressed.
Chong revealed that last month, the ministry received complaints that certain food stalls did not exhibit their prices. He said he had to call up the operators and urged them to comply with the rules.
“We can’t just walk in and issue them a RM200 to RM300 compound. They are hawkers, small traders, earning a living. We don’t go directly to penalise people, that is not very nice,” said Chong.
Also present were KPDNHEP Sarawak director Datuk Stanley Tan and Pending assemblywoman Violet Yong.
