Sabah records more than 100 violations of trade laws in January

KOTA KINABALU: Enforcement authorities detected more than 100 instances of business operators flouting various trading rules in Sabah last month.

Officers from the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry Sabah office had inspected a total of 8,112 premises statewide throughout January.

State director Georgie Abas said they had found 139 cases of individuals violating the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011, Weights and Measures Act 1972, and Control of Supplies Act 1961.

“Compound notices of RM20,700 were issued for these violations as a result,” he said, in a statement here on Thursday (Feb 2).

Towards this end, Georgie warned that the authorities will not hesitate to take action against those who ran foul of the law, adding that the Ministry through the agency was committed to continuing the ground inspections.

He said this was to monitor the prices of controlled goods as well as the supplies at all levels of the chain so that items like eggs, chicken and cooking oil would always be available.

“The inspections were also aimed at curbing activities intended to hoard controlled items to ensure these goods, particularly food, would always be sufficient and easily accessible to consumers at the right prices all the time,” he said.

He said Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry personnel from the Sabah office will be placed at public markets, farmers’ markets and supermarkets to monitor the situation daily.

Georgie urged those with information on such activities to report the matter to the ministry via WhatsApp at 019-279 4317 or 019-848 8000 or contacting its Call Centre at 1-800 886 800 or its Enforcement Command Centre at 03-8882 6088 / 6245.

He added the public may also file online complaints through e-aduan.kpdnhep.gov.my or email to e-aduan@kpdnhep.gov.my or they can choose to visit the nearest ministry office.