Rela to help ministry in enforcement against price hikes

Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry says Rela members will assist to monitor prices and lodge reports against errant traders so action can be taken.

ALOR SETAR: The Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) will use the services of Rela (People’s Volunteer Corps) members to help boost enforcement against indiscriminate price hikes.

Its deputy minister Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah said the proposal to enlist Rela members to also help lodge reports on errant traders with the enforcement division of the ministry was proposed by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in October.

“The proposal is still being discussed by the higher-ups but if it can be implemented, it will help negate the problem of insufficient enforcement officers in the ministry.

“Currently, the ministry has over 2,000 enforcement officers nationwide conducting price monitoring.

“Only the ministry can issue summonses but Rela members can assist in price monitoring and lodging reports for action to be taken,” he said after launching the ‘Back to School Sales Campaign 2016′, here, today.

Ahmad Bashah said the ministry had also been asked by Prime Minister Najib Razak to intensify enforcement through price monitoring in his winding-up speech at the Umno General Assembly 2015, yesterday.

“We will do that as there are traders who indiscriminately raise the price of goods. But when the price of oil dropped, they did not reduce the price of goods accordingly.

“Cooperation from consumers is also necessary to report on indiscriminate price increases. There are over 10 channels available for consumers to lodge reports for action to be taken against errant traders.”

Earlier, Ahmad Bashah handed out vouchers to 100 primary school pupils to purchase items like school uniforms, school shoes, school bags and stationery, in conjunction with the ‘Back to School Sales Campaign 2016.’

The campaign, introduced in 2011, is an initiative to lessen the burden of the rising cost of living, particularly in meeting children’s schooling needs.

— BERNAMA