Ramadan bazaar traders who flout rules will be compounded

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s Kuala Lumpur director Ariffin Samsudin said his officers were instructed to go easy on the traders over the past three days and focus on advocacy. - NSTP/AIZUDDIN SAAD

KUALA LUMPUR: Starting tomorrow, bazaar traders in Kuala Lumpur who profiteer and do not display prices of their goods will face the full force of the law.

The Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s Kuala Lumpur director Ariffin Samsudin said his officers were instructed to go easy on the traders over the past three days and focus on advocacy.

“However, those who flout rules related to profiteering and are not displaying price tags or even not putting up the tags clearly will be booked.”

Ariffin said his officers were earlier instructed to stay their hand in enforcement but the grace period is now over.

“If the price is stated as RM4 we will ask the traders to justify why the price is at that rate and if we are not satisfied, we will issue a compound.

“But we do not want to be cruel enforcers. We understand that Malaysians especially those in the Federal Territory are in the process of rebuilding their lives and the economy. So, the bazaar is a chance at a comeback for them to open shop and make an income.

“That’s why we chose advocacy over the past few days instead of enforcement,” he said during a price check operation at the iconic Jalan Raja Alang Ramadan bazaar.

Ariffin also said the Kuala Lumpur division of the ministry received no complaints from the public related to price hikes in bazaars so far, however it was monitoring the situation closely.

He also urged the public to lodge complaints on traders who profiteer.

He said that there were 98 enforcers who were designated for the 50 bazaars and markets throughout the city daily, alongside 89 price checkers.

They would be checking on matters related to hygiene such as wearing of aprons.

Ariffin also advised parents against bringing their children to the bazaar as per the Health Ministry reminder, considering children remained largely unvaccinated in Malaysia.

He also said that it was crucial to wear masks and do so properly and that his enforcers could take action against traders and visitors who do not wear their masks under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act.

Also present was Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim who said the standard operating procedure (SOP) that applies for now, as far as bazaars in KL were concerned, were the wearing of facemasks.

Source: New Straits Times