Close to RM1.7mil of consumer goods confiscated in Melaka up to Oct 31

MELAKA: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry has confiscated close to RM1.7mil worth of consumer goods in Melaka during the first ten months of this year, the Legislative Assembly was told on Wednesday (Nov 29).

Melaka entrepreneur, cooperative development and consumer affairs committee chairman Allex Seah Shoo Chin said the seizures were made due to various offences up to Oct 31 of this year, adding that 303 cases were registered from the start of the year to that date.

Seah (DAP-Kesidang) said a total of RM54,200 in compound notices were also issued during the same period.

He then said that punitive action was initiated under Section 12(1) of the Consumer Protection Act (APP) 1999 related to misleading information on prices and under Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

"We also received three enquiries and five complaints on the price of chicken at the wet market during this period.

"A total of 1,031 official complaints were also recorded up to the end of Oct, mostly relating to prices," he said.

Seah said this when replying to an oral question from Zahari Abd Kalil (BN-Durian Tunggal) on the issue of rising prices of goods and lack of essential consumer items during the sitting.

He said the ministry frequently monitors and enforces matters relating to the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

"This was also to ensure that there is no price manipulation by irresponsible traders," he added.