KUALA LUMPUR: Eleven food items including chicken and imported mutton have been put on the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s price control list for the Deepavali festivities.

       Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the price control scheme would take effect from Nov 1 to Nov 7, a duration which the ministry felt would benefit all.

       “The ministry has identified 11 types of goods for the implementation of the 2021 Deepavali maximum price scheme,” he said.

       “The goods specified are in high demand by those celebrating Deepavali, so it is important to impose a price control on these goods to stabilise the prices and supply on the market.”This year, Deepavali will be celebrated on Nov 4. The implementation period of the scheme was most suitable based on the current situation and would be a win-win for both consumers and traders, he said.

       “Consumers are able to enjoy affordable prices while traders are not stressed by a lengthy price control period,” said Nanta during a press conference here at the launch of the price control scheme.

       Among the items on the list are live chicken, standard chicken, super chicken, imported bone-in mutton, chicken eggs, red chillies, tomatoes and coconuts.

       The price control scheme will take effect in 91 districts in Peninsular Malaysia, 27 districts in Sabah and one in Labuan.

       As for Sarawak, the scheme would only be implemented in Kuching, Sibu, Miri and Bintulu districts where there are a notable number of people from the Indian community who celebrated Deepavali.

       In the peninsula (except Langkawi), the maximum retail price for standard chicken is RM9.50 per kg while super chicken is at RM10.50 per kg.

       The ceiling price for local bone-in mutton is RM36 per kg for the entire peninsula.

       The pricing of goods in different states varied and was made according to the current market price, currency exchange rate and increased utility costs for farmers.

       Nanta said his ministry would team up with the Agriculture and Food Industries Ministry to monitor the situation on the ground, and ensure adequate supply of goods and prices remained reasonable.

       He added that action would be taken against traders under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 if they failed to comply with the regulations under the scheme.