KUALA LUMPUR – Electronics and communications businesses have been warned not to jack up the prices of products like computers, printers, tablets and smartphones as demand increases.
“Lately, we have been receiving complaints about an increase in prices for electronics and communications equipment due to high market demand,” said Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry enforcement chief Zubir Hamsa in a statement today.
He said a trader found to have unreasonably increased the prices of goods is in violation of Section 14 of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (AKHAP).
“The person can be fined a maximum of RM100,000, or be jailed three years, or both, while a company or corporate entity can be fined a maximum of 500,000, upon conviction.”
Since Monday, he said, the ministry has carried out inspections under Op Catut 8.0 at businesses around the capital.
“So far, the ministry has issued eight notices under Section 21 of AKHAP for traders to provide details on costs and sales price within two days, for further investigation.”
He said the ministry will continue to carry out checks, adding that consumers, too, “must be prudent about purchases and compare prices”. – Bernama, January 27, 2021
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