PETALING JAYA: Traders are warned not to hike the prices of basic essentials following the disbursement of the special Employees Provident Fund withdrawal of up to RM10,000.

       Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said it would continue to monitor the prices of essential items at all levels of retail across the country.

       “We will continue to beef up surveillance and enforcement to curb increases, especially during Ramadan and ahead of the Hari Raya celebration,” he said yesterday.

       The Ops Pantau 2022 is aimed at ensuring that consumers have easy access to food supplies and daily necessities at reasonable prices.

       He advised traders to follow all the guidelines set by the ministry.

       “If there’s any report from consumer, we will investigate it.

       “I hope traders will not take advantage of the EPF special withdrawal to simply hike prices.

       “Action will be taken if found guilty,” he said, warning that the ministry had about 2,200 officers on standby across the country to conduct checks and enforcement operations.

       “We also have 72 enforcement command centres at the district level to detect and monitor the prices of goods,” he said.

       Consumers, he added, should also be specific when lodging a report to help the ministry investigate all complaints.

       “It will be easier for us if we have the exact name of the shop as well as the prices. Please don’t make it too general,” he said.

       The ministry had previously explained that any complaint of price hike would be investigated thoroughly to determine the real reason behind such increase.

       It also pointed out that as a country with an open economic system, the price of goods was commonly determined by demand and supply factors.

       Under normal circumstances, traders could determine any change in the price of goods based on the market price, but certain items can be subjected to the enforcement of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011.