Increase in goods price not as extreme, says association

KUANTAN, Feb 6 — The increase in goods price is not as extreme as outcried by certain quarters, according to Persatuan Pasar Lambak Daerah Kuantan. 

The association’s chairman Mohd Zohari Mohd Mokhtar said ongoing enforcement by the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism ministry had succeeded in preventing traders from hiking their goods price according to their whims.

“But an increase, however small, must be noted as it could potentially rise,” he told Bernama today.

He also echoed Pahang Cooperatives, Entrepreneurs and Consumerism Committee chairman Datuk Shahiruddin’s recent call for price monitoring to be enforced at the manufacturer and middlemen level.

“It would effectively stabilise goods price at the retailer level,” he said.

Meanwhile, Pahang Malay Petty Traders and Hawkers Association head Gazali Khatib Pendek said petty traders and retailers based their prices on the amount they paid to the manufacturers and middlemen.

“If the manufacturers and middlemen sell their goods at a high price, petty traders and retailers are forced to charge higher too.

“We cannot be selling things at a loss,” he added. — Bernama