KUCHING (Dec 23): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) Sarawak has launched the Festive Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) for Christmas, effective from today until Dec 27. This initiative aims to regulate prices and ensure fair trade during the festive period.
KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin announced that the scheme includes a variety of controlled items, focusing on both local and imported goods. Specific to Sarawak, the list includes live old chickens, live pigs (at farm level only), chicken wings, pork belly, and ‘three-layer pork’ (pork meat and fat).
For Sarawak, Sabah, and Labuan, the SHMMP also extends to essential imported items like bone-in mutton, round cabbages from Indonesia and China (excluding Beijing cabbage), carrots, tomatoes, red chillies, green bell peppers, large red and yellow onions, and potatoes from China.
The scheme is enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. Consumers can access the maximum price list on the KPDN’s official website, www.kpdn.gov.my.
During the launch at LePaPa Supermarket, Siniawan Square, Matthew emphasized the ministry’s collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to maintain sufficient supplies throughout the SHMMP period.
Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh officiated the event and commended the initiative’s role in ensuring affordability during the festive season.
To ensure compliance, 214 enforcement officers and 97 price monitoring officers have been stationed across Sarawak, covering areas from Kuching to Lawas. These officers will monitor public markets, wet markets, and supermarkets to ensure traders adhere to the price regulations.
Matthew also highlighted the importance of ethical business practices, stating, “A safe and ethical shopping environment creates a win-win situation for traders and consumers alike.”
The ministry encourages consumers to report any irregularities or non-compliance, ensuring the scheme achieves its goal of fair pricing and ethical trade during the Christmas festivities.
