Penang KPDN Deploys Enforcement Officers To Monitor Daily Prices Of Goods

GEORGE TOWN, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) in Penang has intensified daily inspections at public markets, morning markets, night markets, farmers' markets, and supermarkets to ensure that prices remain controlled and vendors do not increase prices arbitrarily.

This follows a report from the Penang Hindu Association regarding a sharp increase in the prices of seven essential goods, some rising by up to 400 per cent. The monitoring includes items such as tomatoes, garlic, cardamom, coconut milk, black sesame and coconuts.

State KPDN Director S. Jegan said that monitoring was conducted across 45 public markets, 13 hypermarkets, and 18 supermarkets statewide. The results showed that prices remain stable.

Regarding tomatoes, the wholesale price of Cameron Highlands tomatoes from three main suppliers ranged from RM2.00 to RM5.30 per kilogramme, depending on the uncertain weather conditions. Retail prices have ranged from RM4.51 to RM6.41 per kilogramme from October to January.

For garlic, wholesale prices from four major Chinese suppliers were between RM3.80 and RM4 per kilogramme, with retail prices averaging RM12.93 to RM13.06 per kilogramme over the same period. Retail prices for cardamom were RM195.84 to RM205.45 per kilogramme, while coconut milk ranged from RM11.44 to RM14.61 per kilogramme.

The price of coconuts has risen due to increased costs from Indonesia and high demand from Thailand. Retail prices for coconuts in Penang have ranged from RM2.73 to RM3.31 each since October.

Jegan added that KPDN is working closely with industry players such as FAMA to ensure sufficient supply of coconut products in the market. Legal action will be taken against any parties attempting to profiteer unjustly during this time, using existing legal provisions.

-- BERNAMA