KPDN lists 14 items under Christmas price control scheme in Sarawak

KUCHING (Dec 23): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) has listed 14 items under the Christmas 2025 Festive Season Price Control Scheme (SHMMP) for Sarawak.

KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin said the scheme will be enforced for five days, covering two days before Christmas, the day of the celebration, and two days after.

“Any trader found committing an offence under this scheme will face legal action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011,” he said at a press conference on Christmas 2025 SHMMP at Emart Batu Kawa here on Tuesday.

He said the scheme will be enforced at the farm, wholesale and retail levels, with gazetted maximum prices available on the ministry’s official website.

“The list of controlled items includes imported bone-in mutton, chicken wings (Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan only), live ‘ayam tua’ (Sarawak only), imported round cabbage (excluding Beijing cabbage), carrots, tomatoes, red chillies, green capsicum, big red onions, big yellow onions, imported potatoes, live pigs at farm level, pork belly, and pork (meat and fat),” he said.

Matthew said KPDN Sarawak has deployed 207 enforcement officers and 101 price monitoring officers at strategic locations statewide to monitor supply availability and price compliance through inspections at supermarkets, public markets, farmers’ markets and retail shops.

He added that as of Dec 19, inspections involving 125,296 business premises had resulted in 399 cases under various Acts enforced by the ministry, with seizures valued at RM16.44 million and compounds totalling RM826,550.

“During Ops Kesan 4.0 from July 1 to Dec 19, 2025, 175 premises involving 651 stock keeping units were inspected, leading to 11 investigation papers opened under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011,” he added.

Matthew urged traders to comply with the stipulated maximum prices and to use pink price tags for controlled items, warning that strict action would be taken against offenders.

He also assured that the supply of essential goods in Sarawak remains stable despite the ongoing monsoon, with no shortages reported so far.

“Agricultural produce and poultry supplies continue to be sufficient, supported by dedicated wholesalers across the state.

“Enforcement officers are continuously monitoring wholesalers, distributors and retailers to ensure smooth distribution and compliance, with no complaints received as of Tuesday,” he said.