KPDN to conduct 2,000 inspections in Sarawak for Raya price compliance

KOTA SAMARAHAN (March 14): The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will carry out nationwide inspections from March 14 to 28 to ensure traders comply with the Hari Raya Puasa 2026 Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme.

KPDN Deputy Minister Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh said about 2,000 inspections will be conducted across Sarawak during the 15-day monitoring period.

“Inspections will take place seven days before Hari Raya Aidilfitri, one day during the celebration, and seven days after,” she told a press conference following a walkabout at Farley Supermarket here.

Under the scheme, 27 food items have been identified as controlled-price items, varying slightly by state: 24 in Peninsular Malaysia, 23 in Sabah and Sarawak and 22 in the Federal Territory of Labuan.

Items include yellow and red onions, shallots, garlic, red chillies, dal beans, long beans, groundnuts, coconuts, imported round cabbage, carrots, coconut milk, mustard greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, chicken wings, buffalo meat and beef cuts, ginger, and selected fish varieties.

Fuziah highlighted that from Jan 1 to March 12, KPDN conducted 314,577 inspections nationwide, including 33,345 in Sarawak.

She said during this period, 53 complaints were lodged under Ops Pantau, resulting in 492 cases related to price control and compounds totalling RM132,100 issued under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act.

Addressing concerns over the West Asia conflict, Fuziah said essential good prices in Malaysia have remained stable but urged the public to report any unusual increases.

She added that KPDN monitors prices daily via its MyHarga system to identify spikes and determine causes such as floods or weather disruptions.

Fuziah also reaffirmed KPDN’s cooperation with Sarawak to prevent diesel subsidy misuse, following Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s request to Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg to tackle smuggling at state borders.

Present at the event were KPDN Sarawak director Matthew Dominic Barin, state enforcement chief Mohamad Khairi Jamaludin, KPDN Putrajaya price control unit chief Mohd Nor Iskandar Zainoor, and Farley Kota Samarahan manager Eiyen Lau.