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Armizan (third from left) speaking to the media.
PAPAR (Feb 15): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has activated its Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme in conjunction with Chinese New Year, and will roll out Ops Pantau from Feb 19 to March 20 ahead of Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali said the Chinese New Year scheme, which began on Feb 13 and runs until Feb 21, involves 15 controlled items in Sabah placed under maximum price control.
“Enforcement officers from KPDN are currently conducting monitoring and enforcement to ensure traders comply with the stipulated prices. If traders wish to sell at lower prices, they are most welcome to do so.
“However, they are not allowed to exceed the maximum ceiling price that has been set,” he told reporters after officiating the Burger King Drive-Thru and distribution of Chinese New Year goodies at Parklane City, Benoni here on Sunday.
He said the scheme is intended to assist those celebrating the Chinese New Year.
With Ramadan set to begin this coming week, Armizan said KPDN, through its enforcement division, will implement Ops Pantau throughout the fasting month.
“Ops Pantau aims to carry out focused, more frequent and targeted monitoring and enforcement throughout the month of Ramadan leading up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said.
Among the main focuses will be monitoring the supply and prices of essential goods in high demand during Ramadan and Aidilfitri, including fresh produce, sugar, chicken, eggs, cooking oil, and wheat flour.
“This is to ensure not only that supply is available in the market, and we are grateful that the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security has given assurance that supply is sufficient, but it is our responsibility at KPDN to ensure that these supplies are indeed available on the ground.
“Should there be any supply disruptions, we will work closely to inform the Ministry of Agriculture, while also monitoring the pricing aspect,” he said.
Armizan said the ministry will also closely monitor prices of goods listed under the Chinese New Year Maximum Price Scheme and the upcoming Aidilfitri scheme, as well as controlled items such as sugar and packet cooking oil, to ensure no sales exceed stipulated prices.
Ops Pantau will be enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 and the Trade Descriptions Act.
Apart from supply and pricing, Armizan said KPDN will focus on premises offering promotional sales.
“As Ramadan approaches and Hari Raya draw near, many businesses will advertise special promotions and ‘cheap sales’.
“We will monitor these to ensure there are no advertisements that mislead consumers. If it is promoted as cheap, then it must genuinely be cheap.”
He added that Ramadan and Aidilfitri bazaars will also receive priority attention, with KPDN working closely with local authorities to ensure that traders comply with existing laws.
In addition, online sales will be subject to stricter scrutiny as consumer trends change.
“We have seen a significant shift, with many Malaysians purchasing goods online. This too must be monitored to ensure there are no misleading promotions.
“For example, if a delivery period is promised, goods must not arrive only after Hari Raya has passed. We want to ensure that online sales activities do not contravene existing laws,” he said.
Throughout Ramadan, enforcement officers will conduct more frequent inspections at retail outlets, farmers’ markets, night markets, tamu, supermarkets, minimarkets and other business premises.
Any violations will be investigated under relevant laws, with penalties ranging from compounds and fines to possible imprisonment, depending on the offence.
For failure to display price tags, individuals may face fines of up to RM50,000 or compounds up to RM25,000, while companies may be fined up to RM100,000 or compounded up to RM50,000.
Selling price-controlled goods above the maximum price carries a heavier penalty, individuals may be fined up to RM100,000, jailed up to three years, or both, or compounded up to RM50,000. Companies may be fined up to RM500,000 or compounded up to RM250,000.
Failure to display pink price tags for controlled goods may result in fines of up to RM10,000 for individuals and RM20,000 for companies.
Armizan said Ops Pantau is conducted once a year during Ramadan.
He said last year, a total of 70,906 premises were inspected nationwide under Ops Pantau 2025, resulting in 390 cases with seizures amounting to RM42,878.52.
Of that total, 3,403 premises were inspected in Sabah, with 37 cases recorded.
“Among the main offences were failure to display price tags, offences related to weights and measures, and violations involving controlled goods.
“These controlled items have fixed prices, yet some traders sold them above the stipulated prices, including goods listed under the Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme,” he said.
He urged consumers to play an active role by lodging complaints through official channels under the ‘Kita Gempur’ campaign to curb manipulation, leakages and unethical business practices.
“Sometimes an issue goes viral first, but by the time we investigate, the offending party may have already ceased the wrongdoing.
“Please ensure reports are lodged through proper channels with sufficient information to enable us to take swift enforcement action,” he said.
Complaints can be channelled via WhatsApp (019-848 8000), Call Centre (1-800-886-800), email ([email protected]), or the Ez ADU KPDN smartphone application.
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