PETALING JAYA: The Government has set maximum prices for sixteen food items over the Christmas period from Dec 23-27 this year.
Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin (pic) revealed the 16 items and maximum prices under its festive season price-control scheme, with prices differing slightly between the peninsular and east Malaysia.
Maximum prices for chicken (live and slaughtered), eggs (grades A, B and C), imported bone-in lamb, imported bone-in lamb leg, green peppers and tomatoes are the same throughout Malaysia.
Peninsular Malaysia-specific maximum prices apply to bone-in local mutton and imported boneless lamb (not including leg), while only Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan has maximum prices for pork (live and slaughtered) and pork stomach.
Turkey though, was left out of the list again this year.
"We found that there was not enough supply and demand for it. That's why we omitted the item from the list," said Hamzah.
Last year, Hamzah's predecessor Datuk Seri Hasan Malek said that turkey was omitted from the list due to "technical problems".
The prices were set after discussions between the Ministry, trade and consumer groups and suppliers.
"This scheme was created to prevent unfair profiteering amongst sellers during festive seasons," said Hamzah.
According to Hamzah, sellers are required to indicate affected items under the scheme with a special pink tag.
He also said that the Ministry would carry out spot checks during the five-day period to insure compliance.
Those who do not comply will be fined a maximum of RM10,000 and a compound not exceeding RM5,000, whereas companies will be fined a maximum of RM20,000 and a compound not more than RM10,000.
While the prices only apply for the five-day period, Hamzah urged sellers to maintain fair prices at all times if possible to sell items lower than the set prices.
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