SANDAKAN: Supermarkets, retailers, and traders are reminded to comply with the directive to reduce the price of chicken eggs by three sen each for grades A, B, and C starting Monday (June 17), as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced recently.
District Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) Chief Enforcement Officer Azdy Zukkry John said strict action would be taken against those who fail to adhere to this directive.
“KPDN is intensifying monitoring and inspections of retail prices and the supply of chicken eggs at the wholesaler and retailer levels in the district following the announcement,” he said, during a price and supply inspection at a local farm on Wednesday.
“Following our inspection, we found that the farm complies with the government’s directive and has reduced the prices of grade A, B, and C chicken eggs. The supply is also sufficient for the district.”
During the inspection at the farm, Azdy was briefed by Prolific Quality Sdn Bhd Sandakan branch manager and sales manager, Lim Nyit Loong.
Lim said the farm can produce 140,000 eggs per day, including those from Tawau, to meet the district’s demand.
At the same time, Azdy also confirmed that the district’s supply of chicken eggs is adequate for consumer needs.
A similar inspection was conducted at a local supermarket that received supplies from the farm.
The inspection revealed that the supermarket received grade A, B, and C chicken eggs, and the retail prices aligned with the set prices.
For the district, the retail price of chicken eggs, effective June 17, is RM0.48 per grade A egg, RM0.47 per grade B egg, and RM0.46 per grade C egg.
Azdy said this follows the maximum price determination for chicken eggs and the wholesale and retail maximum prices for controlled goods in the East Coast region, including Sandakan, Kinabatangan, Beluran, Tongod, and Telupid.
A total of 19 enforcement officers and eight Price Monitoring Officers from KPDN would be involved in conducting daily inspections, covering both urban and rural areas in this district, to ensure compliance with the retail price reduction of chicken eggs at business premises frequented by consumers.
Additionally, Azdy urged traders to display pink price tags to differentiate controlled items from other goods and to display price tags clearly on all items sold.
If convicted under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, individuals found selling controlled items above the maximum price can be fined up to RM100,000, imprisoned for up to three years, or both.
Meanwhile, companies committing similar offences can be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.
Individuals who fail to display pink price tags for controlled items can be fined up to RM10,000 or compounded up to RM5,000.
Companies failing to display pink price tags can be fined up to RM20,000 or compounded up to RM10,000.
Azdy said complaints regarding trader misconduct could be made through the official complaint channels provided by KPDN and should be kept from social media to ensure proper investigations can be conducted.
