Government to promote shops with lower-price items
PUTRAJAYA: The Government will promote outlets that sell products at cheaper prices to ease concerns that the increase in fuel prices will lead to higher prices of goods.
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Shafie Apdal said hypermarkets, supermarkets and wet markets that sold items at cheaper prices would get visits by ministry officials as part of a campaign to promote their outlets.
“We are educating Malaysians to be smart consumers. We are telling them to buy products where they are sold cheaper.
“Those who sell items at higher prices will eventually not get consumers,” he told reporters after a briefing involving state-level officials who handle consumer affairs, on the recent increase in fuel prices and its impact, at his office here yesterday.
Shafie said his ministry was concerned over the notion that prices of goods had spiralled.
He admitted that some traders had taken advantage of the fuel increase to mark up prices but the number of such traders was small.
He added that action had been taken against them.
“I have asked state excos to monitor the situation so that increases in the prices of goods will not go out of control.
“I told them that this is a serious matter, we must be sensitive and cannot take it for granted. It can affect our economy and the inflation rate will rise,” he added.
Shafie also warned traders against profiteering from the fuel increase, citing the sale of burgers as an example.
“You can’t simply increase the price by 50 sen when beef is a controlled item,” he said, adding that wheat flour used in making the burger bun was also a controlled item.
“The labour force is still the same. So, how do you justify such an increase? How does the diesel price contribute to the increase in burger prices?”
Shafie also said the ministry would deploy 14,000 volunteers nationwide to check on outlets that increased the prices of goods.
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