The government has recruited some 14,000 volunteers, most of them women, to spy on unscrupulous shopkeepers, a report said today.

There was an overwhelming response to the government's appeal for volunteers, dubbed the "Basket Squad Price Observers," The Star said.

Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was quoted as saying that most of them were women who would keep an eye on prices while doing their shopping or marketing.

"The ministry wants a study of the price fluctuations of goods or services so that we know the traders who exploit the consumers and we will take action against them," he said.

"Our officers may not be enough to do enforcement work. It is good for the volunteers to help us and be the eyes of the ministry."

No enforcement powers

They can query grocers on price fluctuations of controlled goods and keep watch on services such as taxi fares or hair salon prices but they cannot act as enforcers, he added.

Muhyiddin said volunteers were previously enlisted on an adhoc basis but were now organised into groups nationwide.

The ministry has received more than 1,500 complaints on unscrupulous traders from volunteers since last year, with offences ranging from charging exorbitant prices to selling expired food products, he added.

Local actresses were among the 14,000 recruits, who received certificates of appreciation from the ministry yesterday for volunteering as spies, the daily said. AFP