KOTA KINABALU: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will launch Ops Pantau 2026 from Feb 19 to Mar 20 to monitor the supply and prices of goods during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Its minister, Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali, said the operation would focus on monitoring the supply and prices of essential goods, including sugar, chicken, eggs, cooking oil, flour, fresh produce, and festive baking items.
“These include items listed under the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP) for Hari Raya Aidilfitri 2026.
“It is aimed at preventing profiteering and ensuring controlled items are sold at government-gazetted prices,” he said in a statement on Sunday (Feb 15).
Ops Pantau would also target business premises that conduct discount sales to prevent misleading advertisements, Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars to curb counterfeit goods, and online sales to ensure compliance with existing laws, he added.
He said the ministry’s enforcement officers would be deployed nationwide at strategic locations, including bazaars, public markets, supermarkets, mini markets and online platforms.
The ministry would also work closely with local authorities to ensure traders comply with regulations, Armizan said.
Offenders face penalties under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 [Act 723], he said, adding that errant traders can face fines of up to RM100,000 or imprisonment for selling controlled items above maximum prices, while companies may be fined up to RM500,000.
Other offences include failing to display price tags or failing to use pink price tags for controlled items, he said.
Ops Pantau 2025 recorded 70,906 inspections nationwide last year, he said, adding that 390 cases were registered, with seizures totalling RM42,878.52.
The public is urged to support the KITA GEMPUR campaign by reporting misconduct through WhatsApp (019-848 8000), the call centre (1-800-886-800), email (e-aduan@kpdn.gov.my), or the Ez ADU KPDN smartphone app.
