Enforcers from the Domestic Trade and Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry are recording the prices of goods at hundreds of businesses ahead of the GST being zero-rated effective June 1.

The move is aimed at ensuring that businesses reduce prices during the tax holiday until the reintroduction of that sales and services tax (SST).

Selangor KPDNKK chief enforcement officer Azman Adam said a total of 213 officers have been recording prices since May 25, and will continue to do so until May 31, reports Sin Chew Daily.

He stated that enforcers have visited some 500 businesses to date, and are expected to cover at least 1,000.

Azman added that enforcers will return to the same businesses after June 1 to ensure that prices of goods were lowered.

"If business owners are found to have violated the law or refused to remove GST from their selling prices, enforcement officers will take action against them based on the relevant laws," he was quoted as saying.

The operation, according to Azman, involved businesses registered for GST with the Customs Department, which include supermarkets, hypermarkets, furniture stores, stationery stores, electrical appliances stores, as well as businesses in the service industry.

Meanwhile, the ministry also announced that it has taken action against traders in Negeri Sembilan and Terengganu after complaints of rising prices ahead of the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations.

Negeri Sembilan enforcement chief Zubir Hamsa acknowledged that prices had been on an uptrend, and stated that the ministry has demanded explanations from errant traders.

"For example, raw chicken has seen a price increases in the last two weeks, and is now RM8.30 per kg compared to RM7.50 per kg before.

"Therefore, we have issued a notice to businesses to explain within five to seven days why they have raised their prices," he was quoted as saying by Utusan Malaysia.

In Terengganu, state KPDNKK director Saharuddin Mohd Kia said there has not been any marked increase in the prices of goods, according to Sinar Harian.

Saharuddin noted that major increases only occurred in certain locations, with the ministry to investigate if these were due to supply chain issues.