CAP: Price Tagging Laws must be enforced

The Consumers Association of Penang (CAP) calls on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living to enforce the Price Control Act 1946 Amendment 1973, Section 8 (1) which requires traders to display price tags on goods that are meant for sale.

Our routine survey around Penang Island showed that many traders are blatantly flouting the Price Control Act. The surveys covered food stalls, wet market, pasar malam stalls, restaurants and sundry shops.

The main offenders were the stalls where prices of the drinks and food sold had no price list or indication of the price displayed.

Second on the list of offenders were restaurants where indication of prices were not updated and thus mislead their customers into believing that the food is maintained at the old price.

By not displaying the correct prices, consumers are normally being “ripped off” when they pay for their order or purchases.

According to the Act the onus is on the sellers to keep the buyers informed of the price. However, a lack of enforcement hindered the effectiveness of the law.

In view of this, CAP calls on the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living, to take stern action and strictly enforce the law in accordance with Section8(1) of the Price Control Act 1946, Amendment 1973 and bring to book all offenders.

Mohideen Abdul Kader
President
Consumers’ Association Of Penang

Press Statement, 3 March 2023