KOTA KINABALU: Businesses are urged to maintain integrity and fairness in their operations during this Ramadan and festive season.
The National Consumer Foundation Sabah chairman David Chan hopes there will not be any form of ‘cartel’, price gouging or profiteering during this season.
“We are concerned if there is some kind of agreement among these businesses to manipulate supply and exorbitantly increase the prices of basic essentials especially local and imported frozen food,” he said in a statement.
This unethical practice would put unnecessary pressure on the consumers especially during this fasting month when demand is likely to increase, he said.
Chan warned that any attempts to manipulate the price of goods and supply without justification is a serious violation of consumer rights and the law.
He reminded businesses that there are laws under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 enforced by the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
Those found guilty of the anti-profiteering law can be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed for an individual and up to RM500,000 for companies, he said.
In supporting ongoing operations to curb such practices, Chan said these initiatives were to control the prices of goods and services while ensuring that consumers would not be victims of any unscrupulous business practices.
He also urged the public to report any such incidents to the authorities immediately if they have any knowledge or suspicions of such matters.
