GOPENG: Traders who impose conditions on the sale of controlled goods such as packet cooking oil and sugar will have to face stern action from the government, says Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Fuziah Salleh.
She said the ministry had received 71 reports related to conditional sales of controlled items across the country this year.
“Any individual convicted of an offence under the Control of Supplies Act 1961 can be fined a maximum of RM1mil or imprisoned for not more than three years or both.
“Corporations can be fined a maximum of RM2mil and for a repeat offence, a fine of not more than RM5mil,” she told a press conference after launching the Perak-level Mobile Rahmah Sales programme here yesterday, Bernama reported.
Fuziah said of the 71 reports, action was taken in 17 cases while six cases are under investigation.
On complaints that consumers in Negri Sembilan and Melaka are facing difficulties purchasing cooking oil in 1kg packets, Fuziah said a special team is probing the matter.
She said the ministry is in the process of creating a mechanism to ensure that subsidised cooking oil goes to the targeted group.
She added that they were in the midst of determining the groups eligible for the oil, whether it should also include the M40 community and traders in micro businesses such as those selling pisang goreng (banana fritters) and fried chicken at night markets.
