KUALA LUMPUR: The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry is not planning to impose any restrictions or ceiling prices for the sale of vegetables despite an anticipated price increase of up to 25 per cent in the market.
Deputy Minister Fuziah Salleh stated that the ministry will be vigilant and take action under the profiteering law if there are traders found to be unreasonably hiking up vegetable prices.
“The ministry will not enforce restrictions or price ceilings, but we will closely monitor to prevent any profiteering.
“It is important to consider the entire supply chain, from the growers to production costs, transportation, as well as wholesale and retail prices,” she highlighted during a press conference discussing the expected price hike due to claims from vegetable farm operators facing a shortage of foreign workers that is impacting supply.
She recently launched the Malaysia Save Food (MySaveFood) Ramadan 2024 national programme and visited Rahmah Ramadan bazaars at Jalan Raja Alang in Kuala Lumpur.
Regarding the coordination of MySaveFood, Fuziah mentioned that 75 bazaars in 11 states, including the Federal Territory, are involved in the project led by Pengguna Siswa from 35 universities, including 19 public universities.
“Last year, through the MySaveFood project, we successfully saved 25 tonnes of food valued at RM281,429.01. For instance, on the first day of Ramadan, Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) collected a total of 429.8kg of food from three Ramadan bazaars.
“In Kampong Bharu, 426.4kg of food was saved,” she disclosed. – Bernama
