KPDNHEP ensures sufficient supply of subsidised cooking oil in Sarawak.
KUCHING (June 12): Twenty-five Goods or Services Information Verification Notices have been issued since June 9 to ensure essential goods are sold at reasonable price during this Movement Control Order (MCO) period, said Sarawak Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP).
State KPDNHEP Enforcement chief Mogan Arumugam said the notices were issued under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 to prevent traders from taking advantage of the current Covid-19 pandemic situation to hike prices.
“If a trader is found to have hiked prices unreasonably or exceeding the profit margin, stern action will be taken under Section 14 of the same Act,” he said in a statement today.
Upon conviction, Mogan said individuals can be fined up to RM100,000 or imprisoned not exceeding three years, or both.
He added that companies or corporations, if convicted, can be fined up to RM500,000.
He said the state KPDNHEP had been conducting checks on the ground to ensure sufficient supply of essential goods during the current MCO.
“Monitoring and inspections are done daily by 178 enforcement officers and 101 price monitoring officers from all KPDNHEP branches across Sarawak.
“KPDNHEP will constantly monitor and inspect the supply of essential goods including the price of cooking oil in the market so that no party is making high and unreasonable profits during this pandemic,” he added.
According to Mogan, Sarawak has 13 cooking oil packaging companies in Kuching, Bintulu and Miri with a total distribution of 3,917 metric tonnes of subsidised cooking oil per month.
He said this is for distribution throughout the whole state including the rural areas.
On top of that, he said 402 wholesalers had been appointed throughout Sarawak to ensure sufficient supply of subsidised and non-subsidised cooking oil in the market.
“In addition, a total of 271 Selected District Retailers and 84 Selected District Wholesalers have also been appointed to ensure that essential supplies including cooking oil are not running dry,” he added.
Public complaints can be channelled to KPDNHEP’s hotline on 1-800-886-800, e-complaint portal at http://e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my, WhatsApp to 019-2794317 or visit the nearest KPDNHEP’s office to seek appropriate action.
During this MCO period, state KPDNHEP operations room opens from 8am to 8pm daily.
Individuals can also call various KPDNHEP divisional offices to voice their complaints: KPDNHEP Kuching on 082-466052, KPDNHEP Sri Aman (083-323836), KPDNHEP Sarikei (084-657751), KPDNHEP Sibu (084-329202), KPDNHEP (084-799678), KPDNHEP Bintulu (086-332176), KPDNHEP Miri (085-412862), KPDNHEP Limbang (085-217414), KPDNHEP Mukah (084-872726) and KPDNHEP Lawas (085-283650).