The responsibility of the penghulu and penggawa institution has now been expanded to include the monitoring of prices and protecting the interest of consumers, said the Minister of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ismail Sabri Yaakob.      

He said the empowerment represented the government's recognition of the penghulu and penggawa institution in view of its position being the closest to the people.     

"As they are always respected by the local community, every advice or criticism from them would quickly be adhered to by the traders and consumers, and with the expansion of the powers of the penghulu and penggawa, the interest and welfare of the consumers would also be better looked after," he said.

He said this in his speech at the handing over of the authority card to 252 penghulu and penggawa from four states, namely Kelantan, Kedah, Perak and Penang and the launch of the price reduction campaign at the Sunshine Supermarket, George Town today.     

So far, 658 penghulu and penggawa throughout the peninsular Malaysia had been empowered to monitor commodity prices and to look after the welfare of consumers in the rural areas.     

- Bernama