BAGAN DATOH, Jan 25 — The Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) will help the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry (KPDNKK) monitor the prices of essential goods.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said PDRM would help the ministry go after wholesalers and retailers who indiscriminately hike prices.

“We will send policemen in mufti posing as customers to check prices of goods and act within our area of jurisdiction,” he said after attending a meet-the-people session with representatives of Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad (SPNB) here today.

He said PDRM had a mechanism to check on prices of goods sold by wholesalers to retailers.

“The prices paid by wholesalers are actually low. However, the goods are sold at very high prices to retailers, forcing them to raise their prices,” he said.

Ahmad Zahid said the move was not aimed at harrassing traders but to help the government, following accusations hurled  by traders that the government had raised the prices of goods, when they were the actual culprits.

“I am doing this out of concern at what is happening in the market now.

“I do not want to interfere in the affairs of consumerism because it is under the jurisdiction of another ministry but we cooperate within our authority,” he added. — Bernama