KOTA KINABALU: Face masks are still available for sale here and there is no need for panic or worry, says the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry.
The ministry's Sabah director Georgie Abas also warned errant traders not to jack up prices, adding that some were selling face masks at twice the original price.
This comes following raids on three business premises in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Sandakan that were found to be taking advantage of current coronavirus concerns by inflating prices of face masks.
Abas said some 3,250 face masks of various types with a total value of RM2,935 were seized.
He added that operations from Jan 26 were conducted on a total of 130 business premises around the state.
He warned traders not to hike prices of face masks or risk being investigated under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
As for the supply of face masks, he said only pharmacies and shops in tourist-crowded areas including Grand Plaza Mall, Jalan Gaya, Suria Sabah and Servay Hypermarket Inanam were facing shortages.
"They are being restocked now," Abas said.
He said from their records, suppliers are sending more than 70,000 masks to traders around the city.
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