Anti-profiteering crackdown from April 2

PUTRAJAYA: To keep traders in check after the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on April 1, the authorities will launch an anti-profiteering crackdown the following day.

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Ministry secretary-general Datuk Seri Alias Ahmad said the second phase of Ops Catut would involve 1,800 enforcement officers nationwide with help from the Customs Department.

“It is necessary for the operation to continue to ensure traders do not take advantage of the GST and hike up prices unreasonably,” he told reporters after launching World Consumer Rights Day 2015 at the ministry yesterday.

He said the operation would go on indefinitely until the price of goods and the economy “stabilised”.

Under phase one, between Jan 15 and March 11, he said 451,794 trading premises were checked with RM426,857 worth of goods seized and compounds totalling RM279,166 issued.

Alias welcomed consumer complaints on errant traders, giving an assurance that all would be investigated.

He said those who increased prices of goods and services would be punished under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, but urged consumers to allow a two-week leeway for traders to adopt the new price tagging.

He said consumer awareness among Malaysians was increasing with a 19% surge last year (11,851) compared to 2013.

Alias also announced that the ministry had no plans to zero-rate RON97 petrol, as RON95, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were categorised as GST relief items.

“Motorists still have the option of using RON95 petrol,” he said.

At yesterday’s event, the ministry’s 661m vegetable salad, Kerabu 1Malaysia, was officially certified the “Longest Vegetable Salad in Malaysia” by the Malaysia Book of Records.