Ministry issues 48 notices to chicken sellers in Kelantan

 

The Kelantan branch of the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has issued notices to 48 chicken sellers after conducting several operations in response to the price hike of certain goods in the state.

Its director Adnan Abd Rahman said the notices were issued to sellers in the state over various infractions including unreasonable price hikes.

“In the same operation involving the wet goods category, we also issued 19 notices to meat sellers and 34 notices to vegetable sellers.

“All these sellers will be investigated and if there was profiteering, harsh action will be taken in accordance with the law,” he said in a statement today.

Adnan added that through the Ops Catut 8.0, which came into effect last Thursday, they are also monitoring producers, suppliers, manufacturers and wholesalers for chicken in the state.

“The total notices issued by the state enforcement officers is 225 notices under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 on construction materials, plain water, chicken supply and meat supply,” he said.

Previously, it was reported that the price of certain items such as chicken had increased dramatically, reaching RM10 per kg since early Ramadan, after suppliers charge high prices for the chickens.

Adnan said they have not received any official complaints from the public about price hikes since early April 2021.

“However, three complaints about price tagging were recorded and action has been taken by the state enforcement officers,” he said.

Adnan also stressed that enforcement will be heightened and harsh action will be taken if there are unreasonable price hikes among the traders.

On April 16, Pakatan Harapan Youth chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin had suggested the government adopt a mechanism introduced by its predecessor to control the prices of fresh chicken meat. 

During Harapan’s time in power, the deputy prime minister was in charge of the National Action Council on Cost of Living, which coordinated related ministries to ensure the Festive Season Price Control Scheme was enforced, he said.

"If this #KerajaanGagal is really dry of new ideas, they can copy the mechanism that was used when Harapan was the government.

"(There's) no problem with that," he said.

267 notices issued in Selangor

Separately, so far this year, the Selangor branch of the ministry has issued 267 notices to traders who were found to have hiked up their prices in the state.

Its director Muhammad Zikril Azan Abdullah said in a statement today that they have also received 114 complaints related to price increases and price tagging, as well as difficulties in obtaining essential items from Jan 1 to April 17.

“Action on complaints received related to the price of goods is given priority, and they are usually resolved within 24 hours,” he said.

Zikril added that 11 cases involving price tagging offences have also been recorded under the operation Ops Pantau, which is being carried out in the state in April and May.

“Selangor has carried out inspections on 4,064 premises and stalls and found that there are a few traders who still refuse to put price tags on goods for sale, especially in bazaars and public markets,” he said, adding that consumers in Selangor who wished to channel complaints regarding prices and essential items could do so via ministry’s e-aduan portal; email to e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my; call 1800 886 800 or WhatsApp to 019-279 4317. - Mkini