SHAH ALAM: Stern action will be taken against traders found to have raised prices of goods, particularly vegetables, unreasonably due to the current hot weather, warns Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh.
The Deputy Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister said her ministry is closely monitoring daily prices to prevent unreasonable profiteering.
“When there is a price increase that we consider unusual, KPDN has the authority to obtain cost details throughout the supply chain.
“This includes production and logistics costs to determine whether the displayed prices are reasonable,” she told reporters after launching the 2026 Pasar Patuh and Rahmah Madani Sales (PJRM@Pasar) for Selangor at the Section 16 Market here yesterday.
Fuziah was commenting on the ministry’s preparations to address potential increases in the prices of vegetables and spices amid the El Nino phenomenon, Bernama reported.
She said the Pasar Patuh programme currently covers 75 markets and 7,130 traders nationwide as part of efforts to safeguard consumer rights.
For Selangor, seven main wet markets have been included under the programme, involving advocacy sessions and awareness inspections at nearly 300 traders’ premises.
The Malaysian Meteorological Department (MetMalaysia) had predicted temperatures in several parts of the country to exceed 40°C in 2027, driven by a Super El Nino forecast to reach its strongest intensity on record.
MetMalaysia director-general Dr Mohd Hisham Mohd Anip said the impact would typically begin to be felt towards the end of the northeast monsoon, particularly in the northern states of the peninsula.
He added that the peak of the extreme heat is expected to coincide with the equinox period around March to April 2027, further driving temperatures to extreme levels.
Farmers nationwide are bracing for a “perfect storm” as the ongoing haze takes a toll on crops while the looming Super El Nino threatens to bring water shortages and push production costs even higher.
