KUCHING (Bernama): The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry is giving traders a week from Sunday (Sept 5) to comply with the maximum price of RM19.90 for the Covid-19 antigen rapid test (self-test) kit.

       Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the ministry's enforcement team would be monitoring the situation but would not issue compound notices in the meantime, and instead give traders reminders to adhere to the maximum selling price.

       “We will give traders one week to adjust to the test kit price.

       “This means we also care about traders, but test kit sales must comply with the stipulated maximum price from today,” he said after conducting an inspection on the price of test kits at a pharmacy here on Sunday.

       Apart from that, Nanta said the ministry would also carry out inspections on wholesalers to ensure compliance with the maximum wholesale price of RM16.

       Failure of retailers and wholesalers to adhere to the maximum price would make them liable for action under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.

       individuals could be fined up to RM100,000 or jailed not more than three years or both or face compound notices of up to RM50,000, while companies could be fined up to RM500,000 or compound notices of up to RM250,000.

       On the antigen rapid test (RTK-Ag) and the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test carried out in clinics, Nanta said the ministry is awaiting the advice of the Health Minister as well as holding discussions with industry representatives for implementation. – Bernama