The Domestic Trade, Cooperative and Consumerism Ministry will start monitoring the price of all the 20 items under its 2012 festive season price control scheme, today.   

The ministry’s Federal Territory Office director, Abu Samah Shabudin, said the items would be monitored under the Price Control Act 1946 and Price Control Order 1993, to prevent the manipulation of prices during the coming Hari Raya.  

“The scheme will be carried out simultaneously at all wet and farmers markets nationwide, starting today to Aug 26, to ensure consumers are not subjected to indiscriminate pricing during the festive season,” he told reporters after launching the scheme at the Federal Territory level and surveying the prices at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail market this morning.   

He added that traders must use pink placards to display their prices and not sell the items for more than the fixed control prices.

The following are the maximum prices per kilogramme for the controlled items.

Live chickens (RM5.70); standard chicken (RM6.80) and super chicken (RM7.60), both without the organs, feet and head.   

Local beef (RM22.00); imported beef for Sarawak only (RM24.00); local buffalo meat (RM21.00); imported buffalo meat from India (RM13.50).  

Chicken eggs grade A (RM0.35), grade B (RM0.34) and grade C (RM0.33); imported round cabbage from Indonesia and China, except Beijing (RM3.20); red chilies (RM10.00); and tomatoes (RM4.50).     

Scraped coconut, retail only (RM6.00); imported groundnuts (RM6.50), small red onions from India (RM5.00); imported big onions (RM2.50); garlic, China (RM7.50); potatoes, China (RM3.00); kembong fish (RM12.00).

Complaints may be directed to e-aduan@kpdnkk.gov.my, toll free line 1-800-886-800, SMS ‘KPDNKK ADUAN ‘ to 15888 or report directly to any of the ministry’s offices nationwide.   

- Bernama