Complaints on chicken, egg price hikes received almost weekly in Sandakan

Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry Sandakan chief enforcement officer Azdy Zukkry John@Azdy Zukkry Abdullah.

KOTA KINABALU: Authorities have warned traders not to bump up the prices of essential goods with the festive period approaching.

The Domestic Trade and Costs of Living Ministry also reminded traders to clearly show the prices of the items they were selling.

This was after complaints received by its Sandakan office in eastern Sabah almost on a weekly basis, said district chief enforcement officer Azdy Zukkry John@Azdy Zukkry Abdullah.

Following the complaints on the price hike, particularly for whole chickens and eggs, Azdy said they launched a joint operation with the Sandakan Department of Veterinary Services at two markets in the district on Tuesday (April 11).

He said a trader was issued a RM200 compound notice for not displaying the prices of goods at their stall under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

“We took the initiative for this proactive action to hold the integrated operation as we are serious in addressing the price hike issue,” he told reporters after leading the operation.

“We wish to remind traders not to sell their goods above the ceiling price.

“And sellers must also make it a point to display the prices properly for the benefit of consumers,” he added.

The enforcement authorities inspected a total of 15 premises during the operation.

From their observations, it was found that certain traders would attempt to make a bigger profit by cutting up chickens to sell their parts individually instead of selling whole chickens.

This was a way around the price control rules.

“Whole chickens are controlled goods, but chicken parts are not, except for wings,” Azdy said.

He urged traders not to think only of profits but to also help consumers by selling items at affordable prices.

He added that the operation also checked whether traders obtained their supplies of chicken from unregistered slaughter houses.

He said the Department of Veterinary Services will take serious action against those found infringing the rules after a complete probe is completed.

Sandakan has three registered chicken farms and two farms producing chicken eggs.

At the moment, the district is able to produce 5,400 trays of eggs and 2,000 chickens daily to more than 150 traders in Sandakan.

Towards this end, Azdy said they will call for a meeting with chicken sellers soon to find out issues and challenges pertaining to supplies and prices.

They were also planning to meet up with chicken wholesalers, he added.

Meanwhile, he said the supplies of essential items such as sugar, cooking oil and flour were adequate in markets as well as wholesalers.

Advising the public against panic buying, Azdy said the Sandakan office was ready to assist consumers if they came across uncontrolled price hikes or other issues.

The public may contact the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317 or 019-848 8000 or contacting its call centre at 1-800 886 800 or its enforcement command centre at 03-8882 6088/6245.

People may also file online complaints through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my or email to [e-mail] or they can choose to visit the nearest ministry office.