Cost of Living Ministry will micromanage areas where prices of chicken are high, says Armizan

KUALA LUMPUR: To ensure the current price monitoring process of cooking ingredients is effective, the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry will begin to micromanage areas where prices are high, says Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali.

The acting minister for the portfolio said this is being done through three approaches namely continuous checks, area-targeted solutions and expanding intervention programmes at problematic areas.

“The first approach is to carry out continuous monitoring on the ground by our enforcement officers where the relevant Acts will be used to resolve arising issues.

“Second is the implementation of area-targeted solutions according to certain problematic locations that we identify.

“And lastly is to expand the intervention programmes in areas facing issues such as certain locations in the Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan.

“These three approaches are being carried out, effective immediately,” he said during a press conference at Wisma Rampai, here on Thursday (Nov 2).

Over 2,000 enforcement officers and about 900 price monitoring officers are being deployed regularly to ensure price limits of certain items are being adhered to by sellers, he said.

Armizan said the ministry has identified areas where chicken is sold at more than the previous ceiling price of RM9.40 per kilogramme (kg).

“In some places, there are sellers who offer chicken at about RM11 per kg but when we go to other premises in the same area, they are able to sell the chickens at below RM9.40.

“If there is a supply problem, we will resolve that with the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry.”

However, if some premises continue to offer high prices, Armizan said more regular visits will be done by enforcement officers who will get to the bottom of the issue.

“We will determine the operational cost of the premises and how much is its profit margin. If it (profit margin) is ridiculously high, we will give advice or take necessary action according to the law.

“If other premises in the same area can offer lower prices, it shows that they can also offer such prices. We want to ensure this, which is why we will micromanage,” he said.