THE Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry said it would announce the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme for Deepavali on Monday.

“Usually we will set the maximum prices for basic necessities based on festivals such as Deepavali, which has its special items, and different items for Chinese New Year,” Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh said.

“We will enforce it for seven days before and after Deepavali and continuously monitor all locations,” she said after surveying chicken prices at a Kajang market today.

On the chicken price float, she said the ministry would monitor and ensure traders and producers do not take advantage of the situation.

Fuziah said action could be taken under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 against traders who set unreasonable prices, while producers or cartels are subject to the Competition Act 2010.

“There are some traders who are unclear on chicken price float because they asked me what ‘float’ is, and there were some who add hidden costs, such as for cutting chicken, which is against the law.

“We will also control production using the Competition Act 2010, for example, to ensure cartels do not take advantage by making pacts to hike prices,” she said.

The ministry has mobilised more than 2,200 officers to conduct inspections under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to ensure there were no indiscriminate price hikes, Fuziah said. – Bernama, November 3, 2023.