The soaring prices of goods have become a talking point in recent months.
Traders in Malaysia say they are forced to hike prices of goods due to various factors – the weak ringgit, low production rates due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and an insufficient workforce.
Consumers, meanwhile, are feeling the pinch.
Following a public outcry, the government initiated the Keluarga Malaysia Sales Programme two months ago.
Since then, close to 1.2 million people have visited the programme’s outlets nationwide.
“As at Feb 14, 1,181,376 visitors had flocked the sales programme’s outlets in 775 locations, generating total sales of over RM22.85 million,” the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry said in a statement this afternoon.
“As such, the programme will now be extended to more areas, offering basic essentials that are up to 20 per cent cheaper than local market prices.”
Among the items for sale include chicken, fish, eggs, vegetables, cooking oil, sugar, flour, rice and selected household items.
The programme is run on weekends in areas accessible to the B40 and M40 groups who had been hit hard by the economic downturn due to the pandemic.
The ministry also reminded traders to be ethical and to obey the law.
“The ministry also hopes that consumers do not indulge in panic buying, which will disrupt the supply, and prices of goods.”
It added that more than 2,200 of its enforcement officers would carry out checks and enforcement sweeps to ensure that there’s enough supply of basic essentials in the market.
