Durians reasonably priced, but duo issued compounds for not complying with regulations

GEORGE TOWN: An investigation into the “three durians for RM1,000” controversy revealed that the fruits were sold at a reasonable price despite claims otherwise.

The state Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP), however, issued two compounds, totalling RM2,000, to the durian seller and the co-owner of the shop.

This is for misleading prices and not complying with pricing signage in the national language.

The ministry’s Penang enforcement chief Chin Ching Chung said the pricing was investigated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Regulations 2016.

"A notice was issued to the two individuals to disclose information whether there was any profiteering.

"We then used the pricing mechanism under the regulations for our investigation.

"Factors that were taken into account include employee wages, utility bills, rent and other costs," he said during a press conference at the ministry’s Penang office in Downing Street on Tuesday (July 23).

He added the durian seller and the shop co-owner, aged 52 and 58, had violated the Price Control Order (Price Indication by Retailer) 1993, which makes it mandatory for traders to have pricing signage in Bahasa Malaysia for all goods.

The thorny issue began when a woman voiced her displeasure about how her friends and her paid RM937 for two Black Thorn and a Musang King durians in an FB posting.

Her post went viral, with negative comments hurled by social media users against the shop.

It was reported that the woman visited the shop on May 30 with a group of friends, asking for the “biggest and tastiest fruits”.

When it was time to pay, the woman apparently remarked that it was expensive but was said to have paid up without kicking up a fuss.- Star