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MIRI – Some traders in Miri are allegedly charging exorbitant prices to rake in big profits from Bruneian visitors, inflicting hardship on locals while breaching the government’s ceiling price for certain controlled food items including eggs.
Sarawak PKR information chief Abun Sui told The Vibes that he wants the government to take stern action against these traders after receiving complaints from locals and going to the ground for an impromptu inspection himself.
He was shocked to find that Grade A eggs are being sold in certain locations in Miri for up to an extra RM4 above the ceiling price per tray.
“The ceiling price set by the government for eggs of Grade A category is RM14.10 for a tray of 30 eggs. However, in Miri city, certain minimarts are selling at RM18 per tray.
“I am referring the matter to the relevant authorities,” said the lawyer, claiming that these traders are doing it out of sheer greed for Bruneian cash.
Seeing that Miri is an oil city that shares its border with Brunei, there are traders here taking advantage of its strategic location by charging particularly high prices for household goods, consumer items, food and drinks, and even services like vehicle repairs.
Sui added that there is nothing new about this problem as it has been going on for decades, hurting locals who are forced to purchase their goods at higher-than-normal prices.
“They charge the shoppers coming from Brunei extra-high prices. In the process, the locals in Miri are also forced to pay extra-high prices. That is why goods and foodstuff in Miri are so expensive.
“The locals have been suffering from such form of victimisation for decades while there are traders earning indecently high profits,” he said, lamenting that the government has failed to safeguard and protect the interests of the lower and average income earners in the city.
Speaking from experience, he claimed that in other parts of the state – such as Sarikei in central Sarawak – businesses are more honest in their dealings and have complied with the government’s ceiling price for eggs. – The Vibes, July 6, 2022