Melaka KPDN issues RM2,600 in fines for 25 cases of missing pink price tags under the Aidilfitri maximum price scheme.

MELAKA: The Melaka Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has recorded 25 cases of traders failing to display the mandatory pink price tags since the Aidilfitri Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) began on March 14.

State KPDN director Dr Mohd Hazimin Jamaludin said the offences resulted in fines totalling RM2,600, attributing the situation to a lack of awareness among traders about the importance of the special tags.

“The use or display of the pink price tags in conjunction with SHMMP is important to help consumers identify controlled goods that have their ceiling prices set by the government,” he said at the Pasar Besar MBMB.

He warned that the ministry would not compromise with traders unaware of the regulations, with compounds issued under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 carrying penalties of up to RM5,000 for individuals or RM10,000 for companies.

Mohd Hazimin also clarified that traders must use pink paper for the tags and not improvised materials like pink plastic wrapped on cardboard, which was observed during earlier monitoring.

He stated that 76 enforcement officers were involved in monitoring markets, Ramadan markets, and Aidilfitri bazaars throughout the scheme, which runs until March 28.

In a separate enforcement update, he revealed that 163 cases involving various offences, with a compounded value of RM30,600, were recorded from January 1 to March 16.

During that same period, various goods worth RM605,628.17 were seized following a total of 8,538 inspections at business premises across the state.

 The Sun Malaysia