The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) has taken action against a trader in Puchong, Selangor, who went viral on social media for selling cooking gas above the controlled price. According to a statement by KPDN enforcement director general Datuk Azman Adam, the trader has been issued a written notice under Section 21 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011. This notice requires the trader to provide feedback on the sale price and cost of the cooking gas canisters they sold within five working days.
The trader had cited the recent diesel subsidy rationalisation as a reason for the price hike in a video recording that went viral. The ministry’s preliminary investigations of the video allowed them to identify the trader's premises and the location of the lorry that delivers cooking gas to Bandar Bukit Puchong, Puchong, Selangor.
An enforcement team from Putrajaya conducted an investigation starting at 4 pm, performing a test purchase to determine the sale price. The test revealed that a 14-kilogramme (kg) cooking gas canister was being sold at RM34, significantly higher than the controlled price of RM26.60.
Following this discovery, the enforcement team confiscated the canister and several business documents to aid their investigation under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, which prohibits selling controlled items above the set prices. Azman emphasized that the ministry is serious about maintaining control over essential goods prices to protect consumers from unjustified price hikes.
Furthermore, Azman mentioned the ministry’s implementation of Ops Kesan 2.0, an operation aimed at studying the impact of the recent targeted diesel subsidy to ensure that there is no profiteering. He reported that from May 20 to June 17, 993 premises nationwide were inspected, and 209 written notices were issued during this operation. This broad inspection is part of the ministry's ongoing efforts to monitor and regulate pricing practices to prevent exploitation of subsidy rationalizations.
The ministry’s swift action in this case demonstrates its commitment to enforcing price controls and protecting consumers from unfair pricing practices. By issuing written notices and conducting thorough investigations, KPDN aims to ensure compliance with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, thereby maintaining fair market practices.
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