PUTRAJAYA: Twenty-six controlled items will be gazetted under the Hari Raya Aidilfitri Season Maximum Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) for 15 days from next Monday, says Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.
This represents an increase of four items compared to the 22 items gazetted under the same scheme last year.
The four additional items, said Armizan, are Indian red onions, Indian red onions (rose), carrots and coconut milk (santan).
“The programme will begin on March 24 and run for 15 days – seven days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, a day during Hari Raya Aidilfitri and seven days after the first day of Syawal,” he said during a press conference at a Ramadan bazaar here yesterday.
Last year, items in the SHMMP for Hari Raya Aidilfitri included local beef (except tenderloin), imported beef, imported buffalo meat and fish such as kembung, selayang, tongkol and demudok.
Others are tomatoes, red chillies, imported round cabbage, long beans, cucumbers, sawi hijau (mustard leaf), imported old ginger, imported shallots, yellow onions, Chinese garlic, Indian red shallots, imported potatoes, dried chilli, peanuts, coconut and grated coconut.
According to Armizan, coconut milk is priced at RM17.50 per kilo in Peninsular Malaysia, RM12 in Sabah, RM9 in Sarawak and RM15 in Labuan.
“It is cheaper in Sabah and Sarawak because there are domestic supplies there, resulting in cheaper coconuts, grated coconut and coconut milk,” he said.
He said the four new items were added to the list due to recent supply chain and pricing issues.
“Coconut milk, for example, went beyond RM22 per kilo due to supply issues,” said Armizan.
This issue, he said, was handled by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry and the Federal Agricultural Marketing Authority (Fama) through coconut imports from other countries, as well as from Sabah and Sarawak.
“So, we decided to include coconut milk in this programme because we are afraid that even though the supplies are adequate, prices may increase as the festive season draws closer,” Armizan said.
“SHMMP can create a win-win situation for consumers and traders as consumers will be able to enjoy reasonable prices and traders will not be affected by a long implementation period.
“I hope that traders will abide by the rules. This scheme is the government’s commitment to ensure that we can enjoy reasonable prices during the festive period,” he added.
Prices of the 26 items are displayed on the ministry’s website at www.kpdn.gov.my.
