KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 — Stern action must be taken against unscrupulous traders who sell water at exorbitant prices, as a deterrent and warning to others who plan to do so, said MCA vice-president Datuk Chua Tee Yong.

He said if the situation got out of hand, the authorities should consider listing drinking water as a controlled price item by imposing a ceiling price to prevent price hike as a temporary measure.

“It’s important to ensure that there will be no price hike and sufficient supply of drinking water in supermarkets and hypermarkets.

“Hence, the authorities must monitor the market and conduct frequent spot checks to ensure that the price of drinking water stays within an acceptable range,” Chua, who is also Labis member of parliament, said in a statement today.

Most areas in the Klang Valley face water rationing whereby an area will receive two days of water supply, followed by two days of water disruption until the end of March. — Bernama