LABUAN — The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) in Labuan has intensified inspections and monitoring to ensure traders comply with the 2026 Deepavali Festive Season Maximum Price Scheme (SHMMP), which took effect today.
The seven-day scheme, running from Nov 4 to 10, covers 11 essential items, with maximum prices imposed at wholesale and retail levels according to product categories and designated areas.
Two new items — coconut milk and Chinese potatoes — have been added to this year’s list, bringing the total number of controlled items to 11 from nine previously.
KPDN Labuan director Junaidah Arbain led an inspection and walkabout at Bataras Hypermarket Labuan today, accompanied by State Enforcement Chief Amiluddin Malang, the hypermarket’s manager Jane Paulus and ministry enforcement officers.
The inspection focused on compliance with the stipulated maximum prices, the display of designated pink price tags for controlled items and the availability of essential goods for consumers.
The team also conducted an advocacy session with the hypermarket management and traders to remind them of their responsibilities, including displaying accurate price information and ensuring that weighing and measuring instruments used in business operations were duly verified.
Junaidah said traders must take their responsibilities seriously and ensure full compliance with the scheme throughout its implementation.
“We will continue to intensify inspections and monitoring across Labuan to ensure traders adhere to the stipulated maximum prices and that consumers are protected from unreasonable price increases.
“Traders are reminded not to sell controlled items above the prescribed prices or arbitrarily increase prices during the festive season,” she said.
She added that KPDN Labuan had conducted several engagement and awareness programmes with traders ahead of the scheme’s implementation to explain the list of controlled items, maximum prices and compliance requirements.
The scheme is enforced under the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723).
Individuals convicted of selling controlled goods above the stipulated maximum prices may face a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to three years, or both, while companies may be fined up to RM500,000.
Failure to display the designated pink price tags may result in a maximum fine of RM10,000 for individuals and RM20,000 for companies. Failure to display price tags carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 for individuals and RM100,000 for companies.
Compound notices may also be issued in accordance with the prescribed rates.
Members of the public who encounter suspected price violations may submit complaints through KPDN’s official complaint channels.
