Can we believe their so called "ceiling price"? One example, chicken ceiling price should be at RM6.00, but the current price is RM7.50....Where is the enforcement? All foods prices are now sky rocketing and the so called "controlled items" too....

Tuesday September 9, 2008

25 controlled food items

PUTRAJAYA: A list of 25 food items will be gazetted under the Control and Supply Act 1961 from tomorrow until June 9 next year, and will be put under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry’s watch.

Of that list, 17 items would then be selected during festive seasons to be placed under the Festive Season Price Control Scheme, and be gazetted under the Price Control Act 1946 to make them price controlled items.

“The main purpose for this scheme is to ensure that there is enough food supply during the festive season. “If there is enough supply, then there is no reason for prices to go up,” Minister Datuk Shahrir Abdul Samad told reporters yesterday.

He said the scheme would be enforced for 15 days a week before and after the holidays which include Hari Raya Aidilfitri, Deepavali, Christmas, Chinese New Year, Hari Gawai and Hari Kaamatan.

Previously, food items were controlled for 38 days during the festive seasons.

He said for Hari Raya Puasa, the controlled prices would be enforced from Sept 24 to Oct 8.

However, he would only announce the ceiling prices next week.

Among the planned controlled food items for Hari Raya and Deepavali are chicken, beef, mutton, mackerel, eggs, cabbage, red chillies, grated coconut, red pomfret, tomatoes, white pomfret, and white prawns.

On petrol prices, Shahrir said that the price of crude oil was forecast to remain below US$100 (RM344) per barrel until the end of the year.

“Petrol prices will go down in October if fuel prices continue to decline,” he said.