Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Thursday emphasised that the government will not tolerate any profiteering by traders who breach business regulations.
Thus, he said, the government always monitored the actions of traders who used various methods to manipulate the cost and prices of goods in the market, including anti-competition activities such as the monopoly and cartel which contributed to the price hike and burdened the people.
In addition, he said the government also created laws such as the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to ensure that the business environment was conducive and befitted everyone in the market.
"The government encourages the business sector to succeed and make reasonable profits as this will also help to boost the national revenue and image, but the government will not allow anyone, particularly the businessmen, to take advantage by raising prices of goods or services to make excessive profits.
"The traders must be more responsible in carrying out their business to make profits, and they must not forget the social responsibility to help consumers by not raising their pricess excessively," he said at the Price Tagging Compliance Programme at the Precinct 8 public market, here.
Also present at the event were Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek, his deputy, Datuk Paduka Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah, the ministry's Secretary-General Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad, and Putrajaya Corporation (PPj) president Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat.
The programme, which was launched simultaneously throughout the country, was a government initiative through the ministry to ensure that traders complied with the regulations pertaining to price tagging.
Muhyiddin said the government had identified that the price hike was caused by irresponsible practices carried out by the various parties including those entrepreneurs who took their responsibility to display the price tags lightly.
"During my surprise visits, I personally found that there were traders and retailers who did not adhere to the regulations and guidelines stipulated, especially in displaying the price tags for the goods they sold.
"In order to create better awareness and enhance best business practices, besides conveying clear messages on the seriousness of the government in protecting the rights of everyone, the government launched the Price Tagging Compliance Programme which began this month until July this year.
Muhyiddin said that in the next six months, traders nationwide must display the price tags. If they did not comply with the ruling after the deadline stipulated, action would be taken against the errant traders.
"I hope this initiative will ensure that the welfare of the consumers are better looked after," he said.
Under the Price Control Order (Pricing by Retailers) 1993, a penalty can be imposed for offences pertaining to price tagging which involved companies, that is a fine of up to RM100,000 while for offences involving individuals, a fine of up to RM50,000 or two years imprisonment or both could be imposed.
The Price Tagging Compliance Programme targeted all types of retail businesses, that is, hypermarkets, supermarkets, mini markets, retail shops, restaurants, general markets, night markets, farmers' markets, workshops, food courts, saloons, and other retail businesses.
The criteria for price tagging is that the price tags must be displayed clearly, and the size of the price tags must be suitable to the goods sold while the list of prices to be written in Bahasa Malaysia or English or both must be in Ringgit Malaysia (RM).
If there are traders who do not meet the regulations pertaining to the price tags, consumers can channel their complaints by calling the toll-free line 1-800-886-800, e-mail to [email protected] or SMS to 15888 by typing "KPDNKK ADUAN" or go to any State/branch offices of the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism throughout the country.
Bernama
Thu Feb 27 2014
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