Govt told to act on rising veggie prices

 

There is concern that the price of vegetables will continue to increase in the coming weeks, says CAP.

PETALING JAYA: The Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) has urged the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) to lower the prices of vegetables, which rose by up to 200% in the last two weeks.

CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said several retailers were concerned that the price of vegetables may continue to rise in the coming weeks.

He gave some examples of the price hike over the past two weeks, stating that the price of cauliflower increased from RM7 to RM16, which is more than 100%, pak choy from RM3 to RM9 (200%) and broccoli from RM8 to RM20 (150%).

Mohideen said CAP had previously urged Fama to control vegetable marketing and distribution throughout the country, but its pleas went unheeded.

“CAP calls for the enforcement division of the domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry to investigate the price increases as average income earners will be badly affected by the escalating prices.

“The ministry must also crack down on traders who hike their prices excessively and violate the Anti-Profiteering Act 2010,” he said in a statement today. - FMT