PETALING JAYA: Efforts to monitor the prices of basic necessities, including food at eateries, will be intensified to curb profiteering and protect consumers due to the imposition of the Sales and Service Tax (SST), says Datuk Fuziah Salleh (pic).
The Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said the authorities are ready to take action against food operators if they increase prices unnecessarily due to the SST adjustments.
“We have already launched Ops Kesan 4.0.
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“This is to protect consumers by detecting price movements and any attempts to exploit the SST adjustments.
“We will continue to monitor them,” Fuziah said when contacted recently.
She said her ministry is prepared to receive complaints from the public.
“We hope all parties can play their roles and we will look into all the complaints,” Fuziah added.
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The ministry has begun nationwide enforcement operations under Ops Kesan 4.0, aimed at curbing unjustified price increases and profiteering linked to the recent revision of the SST which came into effect on July 1.
Its minister Datuk Armizan Ali on July 8 said the enforcement will be guided by four key elements: the first is scrutiny of goods and services listed under the revised SST scope.
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The second involves registered businesses exceeding the SST threshold, which are required to register with the Customs Department.
Other factors include examining pricing margins to determine whether they reflect profiteering in violation of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
“Businesses are advised to consider all four aspects before making any price or service fee adjustments,” Armizan said.
He also urged businesses to consult the Customs Department and the Finance Ministry for policy and compliance clarification, while seeking guidance from the ministry’s Enforcement Division for matters involving profiteering indicators.
