THE festive season maximum price control scheme (SHMMP) for the Chinese New Year will be implemented from January 29 to February 4 involving six types of foodstuffs from the seafood, dried food and pork categories, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said.

In a statement today, he said enforcement of the scheme will begin three days before the festival.

The items include white pomfret, weighing between 200g and 400g, white shrimp (between 41 and 60 pieces per kg), garlic from China, ex-farm live pigs, pork belly and pork (lean meat and fatty meat).

“The SHMMP is implemented as a measure to stabilise the prices of goods and ensure the availability of supply in the market during the Chinese New Year season,” Nanta said, adding that demand for certain goods is expected to increase during the period.

He said the Keluarga Malaysia (Malaysian Family) maximum price scheme (SHMKM), which is in force from January 1 to February 4, involves food such as chicken, eggs and vegetables.

The items under SHMKM include live chicken, standard chicken (slaughtered and cleaned with legs, head, liver and gizzard or any part thereof) and super chicken (slaughtered and cleaned without legs, head, liver and gizzard).

Also on the list are grades A, B and C chicken eggs, long beans, red chillies, tomato, green mustard, imported round cabbage (Indonesia and China, excluding Beijing) and cucumber.

Nanta said the items under the Chinese New Year SHMKM and SHMMP comprise 18 types of foodstuffs from the chicken, chicken eggs, vegetables, dried foodstuff and pork categories.

He said the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry has collaborated with the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry to ensure sufficient supplies in the market.

“Enforcement officers will be at various locations such as public markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets to conduct inspections and monitoring,” he said.

Nanta also reminded traders that stern action will be taken against those who fail to comply with the rules under the scheme.

The prices of the items under the Chinese New Year SHMMP are listed on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s website. – Bernama, January 26, 2022.