Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said traders selling price-controlled items such as sugar, flour and cooking oil will be required to have a retail licence for controlled goods effective June 15.

Ismail Sabri said the licence system was needed for the government to monitor controlled items like sugar, flour and cooking oil.

"Previously the government faced difficulties to control small traders because there was a huge number compared with wholesalers and the need for traders to have a licence is to protect consumers.

"The payment for applying the licence is only a one time payment of RM10, so I don't see any problem if the rule comes into force on June 15," he told reporters in Kuantan today in response to a statement by MCA deputy president Liow Tiong Lai who echoed the sentiments of Chinese traders in the country.

"There is no reason for traders to object the government's decision to implement the requirement since it is an effort to protect consumers from being exploited by irresponsible people," said Ismail Sabri who handed over Bank Rakyat's RM1.307 million business tithe collection to Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah at Istana Abdul Aziz today.

Tengku Abdullah received the money on behalf of Majlis Ugama Islam dan Adat Resam Melayu Pahang (Muip).

- Bernama