KUALA LUMPUR: Authorities have checked over 3,000 traders across the country to crack down on unethical business practices in just one day after Ops Pantau 2025 began, says the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry.
The ministry said that it had carried out 3,275 inspections nationwide, and received 116 complaints from consumers as of March 3, just one day after Ops Pantau was launched.
Of these inspections, the ministry said 22 legal actions were taken against traders for unethical business practices, resulting in RM900 in goods seized and RM6,600 in fines handed out.
“These actions have been taken based on violations of the Price Control and Anti-Profiteering Act 2011 (Act 723), the Supply Control Act 1961 (Act 122), and the Weights and Measures Act 1972 (Act 71).
“The ministry will continue to collaborate closely with other ministries, particularly the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry to ensure food production and supply; and essential goods stay at stable prices,” the ministry said in a parliamentary written reply on Tuesday (Mar 4).
The ministry added that it continues to engage with stakeholders in various industries to gather information on production cost increases and market sale prices.
The ministry was replying to Mohd Azizi Abu Naim (IND-Gua Musang) who wanted to know the ministry's plan to deal with extraordinary price hikes for items not under its Scheduled Control Goods list during the fasting month and Hari Raya.
On Sunday (Mar 2), Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Minister Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali launched Ops Pantau 2025 to ensure traders' compliance with the ministry's laws during Ramadan and the lead-up to Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
He said the operation would focus on inspecting and monitoring traders at Ramadan bazaars, Aidilfitri bazaars, public markets, wet markets, supermarkets, and grocery stores, among other places.
This would include common issues such as the supply and price of goods, sales promotions, the use of weighing instruments, the sale of counterfeit or pirated goods, halal certification, and the sale of essential goods.
