A survey by the Consumers’ Association of Penang(CAP) has found that the prices of certain goods in the state, such as Malavi dhal, green beans, garlic and brown sugar, have gone up between 50 to 140 percent over the past six months.

CAP president SM Mohd Idris said that the price of garlic had increased the most since last November from RM2.50 to RM6 for the same quality of the item.

“In addition, our survey found that Malavi dhal, which used to cost only RM4 per kg, has gone up to RM8, whereas string beans went from RM3 per kg to RM5, while brown sugar went up to RM2 from RM1", said Mohd Idris in a statement today.

He said several retailers had complained that distributers and wholesalers had informed them that several other goods, such as Milo chocolate powder, sweetened condensed milk and spices may go up between five to ten percent within the next few weeks.

CAP called for the enforcement division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives And Consumerism (MDTCC) to monitor the hike of goods in the state.

“The arbitrary hike up of prices will jeopardise (the welfare of) consumers, especially low-income earners. Immediate steps need to bet take to bring down and control the prices of all goods,” he said.    

Markets to be closely monitored

In response, the Penang MDTCC department said it would not compromise with traders who refused to abide by the prices set by the authorities, especially as laid out in the price control scheme for the Chinese new year festive season that will take effect next week.

Its director Abdul Rahim Hassan said close and stringent monitoring will take place to ensure that traders abide by the ceiling price of those wholesale and retail items listed in the scheme.

“The implementation of the scheme will be carried out for eleven days starting Feb 10 - 11, and we will be monitoring matters closely so that traders do not take advantage (of the festive season to hike up their prices).”

- Bernama