KUALA BERANG – The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry (KPDNHEP) will conduct continuous monitoring and periodic raids on companies and distributors related to imported meat without notice.
Its deputy minister, Datuk Rosol Wahid, said the ministry has not "washed its hands" of the issue and will continue its monitoring efforts to ensure all meat imported into Malaysia is halal.
"The ministry also guarantees that all imported meat available in the market at this time is halal... we have been able to contain and identify the illicit meat; in fact, one company (involved in forging the halal logo in the recent illegal meat cartel case) was charged in court today.
"The assurance is given because all the meat from the affected premises has already been confiscated. Our responsibility is to ensure that all meat entering Malaysia must be halal, except pork, which is in another category," he said.
He told reporters this after inspecting compliance with the maximum price scheme for the Christmas festive season at a supermarket here today. With him was Terengganu KPDNHEP director Saharuddin Mohd Kia.
In another development, he said a total of 9,629 business premises nationwide were inspected by the ministry from December 22 to yesterday for the maximum price scheme during Christmas.
Rosol said only 10 cases involving a total compound of RM1,100 and a total forfeiture of RM386 were recorded during the period.
"In one case, it was the failure to display the special price tag (pink) while in the other nine cases, no price tags were displayed. Action was taken in accordance with the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.
"This shows that the price-monitoring scheme is efficient because traders have followed the stipulated rules so as not to take advantage of the festive season," he said.
Apart from that, he said the ministry has also started Op Catut in three phases to monitor the price of school items and uniforms for the 2021 school session.
"The first phase is from December 24 to tomorrow; the second phase is from January 1 to January 19 and the third phase is from February 20 to March 7. This operation is aimed at weeding out traders taking the opportunity to increase the price of school uniforms and neccesities, such as bags, shoes, socks and scarves," he said. – Bernama, December 30, 2020
