ALOR SETAR: Eight food items have been gazetted under the festive season maximum price scheme for Chinese New Year.
The price scheme will be in effect for 15 days, from Jan 15-29.
Domestic trade and cost of living minister Salahuddin Ayub said the eight items were white pomfret (weighing 200-400gm each); white shrimps (between 41 and 60 pieces per kg); garlic from China; imported potatoes (China); imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing); live farm pigs; pork belly, and lean and fatty pork.
“Our enforcement teams will monitor and control these prices for seven days before the festival, one day during the festival and seven days after the festival,” he said at a press conference after visiting the Lotus’s supermarket here today before conducting a survey on essential goods there.
Salahuddin said the maximum retail price set for white pomfret is RM42 per kg; white shrimps RM39 per kg; white garlic RM8.50 per kg; potatoes RM4 per kg; round cabbage RM4 per kg; live farm pigs RM15 per kg; pork belly RM36 per kg, and lean and fatty pork RM25 per kg.
“I hope that no traders or premises will be fined or face action by the authorities. Please cooperate so that we can give joy to the people during this festive season, especially when we are facing a cost of living issue now,” he said.
Those who do not comply with the maximum price scheme will be subject to action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
Salahuddin said the supply of eggs was also sufficient in the market, but the results of his survey, after the launch of Ops Terjah, found certain locations still face a shortage.
He asked consumers to report directly if they encounter a shortage in their area for immediate action to be taken.
“In the ongoing Ops Terjah, yesterday I received a report on shortage of eggs in Jempol. Before that, there was a report in Johor Bahru and prior to that a report came from a place in Kedah.
“I have instructed enforcement officers to do an immediate inspection so that we can deal with the matter quickly.”
He said as a result of his ministry’s meeting with the agriculture and food security ministry, the egg supply situation is expected to be resolved within three months.