PORT DICKSON, Aug 16 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will swiftly monitor profiteering activities, to prevent price increases in goods and services, following today’s announcement of salary adjustments under the Public Service Remuneration System (SSPA).
Its Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said that KPDN would take stringent action against traders who raise prices, as the civil servants' salary adjustments are unrelated to operational and business costs.
“We have prepared in advance since the government announced plans to implement this salary adjustment through the SSPA.
“Preliminary plans have been made, and the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) has been informed, because there is a risk that some parties might engage in profiteering before the adjustment takes effect on Dec 1.
“Therefore, immediate enforcement and monitoring are necessary,” he said to reporters at the Op Tiris 3.0 location, here, today.
He stressed that price increases in goods and services should not occur, since the government’s salary adjustments are intended to alleviate the cost of living for the public, especially civil servants.
To address this, KPDN will initiate a mass movement in September, to enhance enforcement against profiteering and leakage activities, with cooperation from various stakeholders, including the public.
He said that the Prime Minister will hold a special meeting with KPDN enforcement officers in Putrajaya on Aug 23 to discuss the matter.
At the meeting, Anwar will be briefed on operations addressing leakage and profiteering, and the measures implemented to prevent such activities, following the salary adjustments and introduction of the SSPA.
During his speech, at the 19th edition of the Majlis Amanat Perdana Perkhidmatan Awam (MPPA XIX) 2024 programme today, the Prime Minister warned companies and shop owners against increasing prices, particularly of food items, ahead of the civil servants' salary adjustments, scheduled for December.
Anwar assured that enforcement agencies, including KPDN, will take decisive action through their officers.
-- BERNAMA
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